Jordan Langs Leads IWU Football

By: Emily Lehner

Langs and his family, photo obtained from Facebook
Langs and his family, photo obtained from Facebook

Jordan Langs is originally from Michigan. His dad was his small town’s high school football coach, so a love for the sport of football was cultivated in his family from a young age. Following in his older brother footsteps, Langs decided to play football for Wheaton College where he met his wife. Upon his graduation, he accepted a job as defensive coordinator for Wheaton’s football program. Recently, though, Langs and his family have moved to Marion, Indiana, as Langs takes on the rewarding challenge of being IWU’s first head football coach.

When asked what his goals were for IWU Football’s first season and the busy moments leading up to season, he stated, “Our first goal is to accurately reflect the mission of this school. Of course, we want to win football games. That will be a goal when we get on the field. However, we never want to sacrifice the identity that this campus’ mission gives us.”

Langs is hopeful that winning will be a byproduct of the team’s commitment to pursuing excellence. He and his fellow coaching staff desire to make the university and surrounding community proud by precisely representing who the people of IWU aim to be as followers of Christ. “We want to make everyone in Marion and Grant County proud,” he said.

As far as challenges are concerned, Langs mentioned the fact that the IWU Football athletes of 2017 will have to sit out the first season. With fall of 2018 being the first football season, the recruited athletes that arrive as freshmen in the fall of 2017 will have to spend a season simply practicing, refining their skills and aiding in the development of the IWU Football program. “Our attitudes during this time will be a key factor in the success of it. We have to focus on the positives of it to make it a great time for us,” said Langs.

Everything has to start from scratch. Langs stated, “The product of this program being at its beginning is going to be something great. The athletic department and facilities that IWU gives us makes this process obtainable.” Langs does not deny that time and work are essential factors in the development of the IWU Football program.

Langs included, “I enjoy the quality of people here, but also I enjoy the quality of how things are done. The Student Center is beautiful. The Chapel is beautiful. Things are done well here, and most of the credit goes to the alums. But, we aren’t behind the times here.” All of these characteristics of IWU will allow the football program to be nothing but successful.

Langs said, “I look forward to being a part of a place that has great people. We have great facilities and backing. Mark DeMichael is a phenomenal leader and Athletic Director. These things make me excited for what is to come with the program.”

The Athletic Department and Langs are ecstatic to bring the new territory of college football to Grant County and the IWU community. Langs believes that, with IWU already being a great brand, the football program can elevate it to a new level.

 

Written by Emily Lehner, writer for the Alumni Center and a sophomore Writing major at IWU. She is active on the cross country and track teams. She is passionate about using her writing skills to share the good news of Christ with others and writes often on her personal blog at www.emilylehner.wordpress.com.