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 Don
Lee, a native of Franklin, Tennessee, enters his third season at the
helm of the Belhaven College football program. Since taking the reigns,
the Belhaven football program has successfully seen an increase in
graduating seniors and academic performance. “In 2005, we graduated 11
seniors and had an increase in 2006, graduating 20 seniors. I am
extremely proud to see our guys using football to get their education.
Football does not last forever, but their college degree will, said
Coach Lee.” The football team G.P.A has risen from a 2.0 in 2005 to a
2.47 in 2006. The Blazers finished up with the second winning season
in school history with a 6-5 record. Offensively the blazers led the
(NAIA) 1st in passing with 3,455 yards and 29 touchdown
passes. Defensively, the Blazers ranked 3rd in sacks while
the secondary held opponents to only 166 yards passing for the season.
“We came together throughout the 2006 season,” said
Lee. “The players bought into the system and the values we had worked
so hard to establish. A lot of the guys even stayed in Jackson for the
summer and worked out together. They understand the necessity of
believing in themselves and trusting in each other.”
Coach Lee served as the
Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Blazers in 2003
and 2004 before being named Head Coach in 2005.
Prior to arriving at
Belhaven, Coach Lee was the Linebackers Coach at Cumberland College in
Kentucky during the 2002 season. From 1997-2001, he served as Defensive
Line Coach at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri and was named the
school’s “Recruiter of the Year” in 1998.
Coach Lee spent 1995-1997
at Middle Georgia College as the Defensive Ends Coach, where the defense
was ranked 7th in the NJCAA in total defense during the 1995
season. His coaching career began with Momence High School in Momence,
Illinois, where he served as Outside Linebackers Coach for the school.
Lee played four seasons
at Olivet Nazarene University (1990-1993), where he was a three-year
letterman as a defensive end for the Tigers. He received his Bachelor
of Science degree in Physical Education from ONU in May of 1995.
Coach Lee and his wife
Anitra have been married for six years, and have two children (Ka’Niyah,
and Don, Jr.). The Lee family resides in Brandon.
Ray Caldwell enters his fifth season as Offensive
Coordinator and third as Assistant Head Football Coach with the
Blazers.
“We made significant strides all around last season,” said Caldwell.
“The talent we have at the skill positions just seems to get better and
better with each year. Our guys have developed a firm mental grasp of
our offense, which will help tremendously with execution. We all expect
this season to be a huge step forward for Belhaven Football.”
In the previous four seasons under Coach Caldwell’s
direction, the Blazers have developed one of the nation’s most prolific
offensive attacks. In 2003, the team boasted the nation’s #1 ranked
passing offense as it rolled up 4,830 total yards (4,221 passing --- 609
rushing) and 47 touchdowns, the most productive offensive output in the
history of the program. In 2004, the Blazers amassed 3,688 total yards
and finished as the NAIA’s sixth-ranked passing offense. In 2005, the
Blazers added more balance to the aerial attack, finishing as the NAIA’s second-ranked passing offense
and with only their second 1,000 yard rushing effort in the program’s
history. In 2006, the Blazers offense staked its claim again as
the nation’s #1 ranked passing offense (314.1 yards per game), 11th
nationally in scoring offense (30.30 points per game), and 13th
nationally in total offense (362.80 yards) under Coach Caldwell.
He has coached 3 All-American players and 20 All
Mid South Conference selections. He was selected as a offensive
intern for Fall Training Camp 2007 by the Detroit Lions of the NFL and
worked with the offensive staff.
Prior to arriving at Belhaven, Coach Caldwell
served as an offensive intern with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers during
the 2002 season. He spent five years at Southwest Baptist University in
Missouri, where he held several positions, including Co-Offensive
Coordinator. From 1994-1997, he was the Running Backs Coach at Middle
Georgia College.
Coach Caldwell, a native of Frankfurt, Kentucky,
and his wife, Aleisha, have been married for eight years, and have one
daughter (Olivia). The family resides in Brandon. Coach Caldwell
completed his Masters of Arts in Education Administration at Southwest
Baptist in 2001.
 Bobby
Ladner enters his third season as Defensive Line Coach with the Blazer
Football program.
Coach Ladner, a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, is a 2003 graduate of
Belhaven, where he was a four-year starter at defensive tackle for the
Blazers from 2000-2003. During his career at Belhaven, Ladner amassed
252 total tackles and 36 sacks. He is presently the career sacks leader
for the Blazers.
In addition to his duties with the football team,
Coach Ladner also serves as a Special Assistant to the Athletic
Director. Ladner assists with fundraising for the athletic department,
overseeing “Blazers Built for Others”, and coordinating Blazer Celebrity
Weekend and the Athletic Convocations. He is also the head of the Hall
of Fame committee.
Coach Ladner is currently pursuing his Masters in
Science in Management at Belhaven.
 Danny
White enters his fifth season as a member of the Belhaven College
Football staff. Coach White served as Defensive Secondary Coach for the
Blazers during the 2003 season before being named Linebackers Coach in
2004.
“I am very thankful to be a part of Belhaven and
this football program,” said White. “The young men we have on this team
have a hunger to learn and succeed, both on and off the field. We have
continued to make significant strides on the defensive side of the ball
each of the past four seasons, and I expect to continue to build on
that.”
Prior to arriving at Belhaven, Coach White spent four years on the
coaching staff at his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University (MO).
Coach White and his wife, Tamah, have been married
for seven years. They have one daughter (Abigail) and reside in
Jackson. Coach White completed his Masters of Arts in Education at
Southwest Baptist University in 2001.
Willie Heidelberg -
Assistant
Coach
wheidelberg@belhaven.edu
 Willie
Heidelberg enters his ninth season on the Belhaven College Football
staff. Coach Heidelberg began his career with the Blazers in 1999,
coaching the running backs and wide receivers. He will serve as Running
Backs Coach during the 2007 season.
“I am glad to continue to be a part of Belhaven
Football,” said Heidelberg. “Having been here almost from the start ten
years ago, I can attest to the progress that has been made in a
relatively short amount of time. This season should be very exciting,
and I am confident we will compete at the very highest level we can this
year.”
Prior to arriving at Belhaven, Coach Heidelberg
served 25 years (1973-1998) as a coach and teacher at Murrah High School
in Jackson. During his tenure with the Mustangs, Coach Heidelberg
coached football, track and basketball, with two years coming as Head
Football Coach and 14 years as Head Track Coach.
Coach Heidelberg is a graduate of the University of
Southern Mississippi, where he was a letterman running back for the
Golden Eagles during the 1970 and 1971 seasons. Heidelberg also played
football at Pearl River Community College (1968-1969). He is a member
of the Pearl River CC Sports Hall of Fame.
Roy Thompson joins the Blazers’ staff in 2007 after
serving as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at
Highland Community College last season. In his season at Highland, his
team led the Jay-Hawk Conference in sacks, and he had one player
selected to the All-America team.
Thompson, a 2006 Belhaven graduate, was a 2-year
starter and team captain for the Blazers. “I am very excited about the
opportunity to return to Belhaven as a member of the staff,” said
Thompson. “I should gain a great deal of knowledge from this coaching
staff.”
Roy is married to Julia Rodriguez Thompson.
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