Top 10 Players in the Lance Leipold Era at UW-Whitewater

With the Lance Leipold era at UW-Whitewater officially coming to a close, it isn't only impressive from what Leipold did as head football coach at the school.  During Leipold's eight seasons at the helm, he was the fastest ever in NCAA History to 100 wins (in just 106 games) finishing with 109 wins and had as many National Championship as he had losses. Three of those losses came in conference as he ended with a 53-3 record against WIAC opponents. In the end and as Leipold has always put it, it has always been about the players. That is true and Leipold had some really good players in his time at UW-Whitewater. So here is a ranking of the top players that he coached in the eight years he was at the helm.
First let's talk about what goes into this. National Championships are an obvious factor because the Warhawks won six of them during his reign at Whitewater. With that being said it isn't surprising that many on this list have more than one. Some of the other factors in the placement of each of these is whether or not they were considered for the Gagliardi Trophy, which is the Division 3 Heisman. Another factor was Stagg Bowl MVP's considering more than one of these on this list had at least one of them. Also where the player ranks in the UW-Whitewater record book is also consideration in the making of this list. Here we go:
1. Levell Coppage, Runningback (2008-2011)
During Leipold's reign at the school, he had two of the greatest running backs in the program's history. Part of the reason Whitewater has won as the six National Championships they've won in his time at Whitewater was because of the ability to "pound the rock." Let's start with the most noteworthy back in Levell Coppage. Coppage was a Gagliardi Award finalist during his time with the Warhawks and was part of the three peat from 2009 to 2011. During his time at Whitewater, Coppage was also a four time first team All-American. He is the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (7,795) and rushing touchdowns (109). All four of his seasons with the Warhawks rank in the Top 10 in school history. The impressive thing about Coppage is that he had good backups behind him (Booker Stanley, Antwan Anderson and Desmin Ward) and the fact that he blew away the numbers of the next guy (Justin Beaver) right after he left.
2. Justin Beaver, Runningback (2004-2007, 2007 with Leipold)
Next up, is the other notable running back in the program's history: Justin Beaver. This is one of the few on this list that was coached by Leipold and his predecessor Bob Berezowitz. He is also the lone Warhawk winner of the Gagliardi award.  Beaver also was a three-time first team All-American. During Beaver's career, he rushed for 6,584 yards and 44 touchdowns. Both were school records up until Coppage followed him the next four years. Beaver and Coppage both have six of the top 10 rushing seasons in the program history with Beaver's 2,455 in his one season playing for Leipold topping the list.
3. Matt Blanchard, Quarterback (2009-2011)
Matt Blanchard is probably the most successful on this list because of the fact he has gone on to be a backup quarterback in the NFL. Blanchard, a Gagliardi Finalist in 2011, was fourth all-time in passing yards with 5,106 and fifth all-time in touchdown passes with 44 (tied with Leipold's predecessor Bob Berezowitz).  He also achieved first team All-American honors in 2011. Just like Coppage, Blanchard was a part of the three peat from 2009 to 2011. Blanchard has gone to play as a backup quarterback with the Chicago Bears and is currently on the practice squad with the Carolina Panthers.
4. Matt Behrendt, Quarterback (2011-2014)
If you are reading this list, you can definitely tell how important the offense has been in the Leipold era. The next player unlike the first three on this list wasn't considered for the Gagliardi, but when the National Championship game came around outdid a two-time winner in Mount Union's quarterback Kevin Burke. We're of course talking about Leipold's last quarterback in Matt Behrendt. Behrendt, who has won the last two Stagg Bowl MVP trophies, finished his career with the school's all-time record for touchdown passes with 87 and second in passing yards with 7,735 yards. Those stats are a testament to the weapons that he has had during his time at Whitewater such as Tyler Huber, Jake Kumerow, and Justin Howard. Safe to say, if you are a Whitewater fan, you might now question why they didn't start him in 2012 over Lee Brekke and what could have happened if they did. Either way, the Warhawks won two National Championships regardless. But who knows if they did we could be looking at a six peat rather than five of the last six.
5. Jace Rindahl, Linebacker (2005-2008)
Now onto the first defensive player on this list and one of the few to play for both Lance Leipold and Bob Berezowitz. Unlike Justin Beaver, Jace Rindahl played two seasons each for them. Rindahl played for the Warhawks at linebacker from 2005 until 2008 and was a Gagliardi Finalist in 2008. In addition to being a Gagliardi Finalist that year, he also was on the first team All-American team that year. Rindahl ranks just outside the top 10 in the UW-Whitewater record book in interceptions with 11 and also ranks fourth in interception return yards with 218. Rindahl also is in the top ten in career tackles with 248 and ranks sixth in the program's history in solo tackles with 133.
6. Cole Klotz, Linebacker (2010-2013)
Up next is another linebacker and another three time National Champion. Just like Rindahl, Cole Klotz was another Gagliardi Finalist for the Warhawks. In the UW-Whitewater record book, Klotz is tied with Rindahl in terms of season totals in solo tackles.  Klotz was a part of a the Warhawks strong linebacker corps that consisted of Kyle Wismer, Ryan Cortez, and Josh Williams.
7. Louissaint Minnett, Defensive Lineman (2010-2013)
The next two players share one thing in common: they were both two sport athletes in college. In the case of the next player on this list, Louissaint Minnett, he was also on the Track and Field team during his time at UW-Whitewater. Minnett was the winner of the Stagg Bowl MVP trophy in 2011 and anchored the defensive line during his career. In the UW-Whitewater record book, Minnett ranks sixth with 23 career sacks.
8. Jeff Donavon, Quarterback (2006-2009)
Another quarterback and another multi-sport athlete makes the list in Jeff Donavon. Another player who was coached by both Bob Berezowitz and Lance Leipold. In addition to being the starting quarterback for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Jeff Donavon also played baseball at UW-Whitewater. During Donavon's career, he passed for 6,423 yards, which ranks third all-time in school history. He also had 45 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in this time at quarterback for the Warhawks. In addition to being apart of two National Championships, Donavon also gained first team All-American honors in 2009.
9. Jake Kumerow, Wide Receiver (2012-2014)
Another member of the most recent National Championship in the Leipold Era makes the list. Jake Kumerow, finished in the top three in the three major wide receiver categories in the program's history. Kumerow finished as the all-time leader in touchdown catches (36), 2nd in receptions (158), and third in yards (2,648). The impressive thing about those stats are that they are close to another Warhawks wide receiver that made the NFL in Derrick Stanley. After being listed as a honorable mention on the All-American list in 2013, Kumerow won the Offensive Player of the Year award and was listed as a first team All-American in 2014.
10. Jeff Schebler, Kicker (2006-2009)
Here is the kicker to this list. Rounding out the top ten players on this list is a kicker of all things. In most of Leipold's time as coach at UW-Whitewater, he has had two superb kickers in Eric Kindler and Jeff Schebler. Schebler was the kicker for the Warhawks from 2006 to 2009 and has the NCAA record with points with 470. In his career at Whitewater, he also had 245 extra points and 75 field goals, both records at UW-Whitewater. Schebler was a four-time first team All-American from 2006 to 2009.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Brady Grayvold, Logan Allemand, Danny Jones, Eric Kindler, Aaron Rusch, and Lane Olson.