• First team All-MIAA performer for the Bearcats at linebacker in 1995 & 1996.
• Works with defensive secondary and special teams units.
• Previously served as defensive coordinator at Emporia State.
Ken Gordon enters his fourth season at Northwest as the secondary coach and special teams coordinator. Gordon, who also played at Northwest, returned to his alma mater after four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Emporia State.
Cornerback Brandon Dixon was was taken in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New York Jets after playing two years under Gordon at Northwest. He helped lead the team the the 2013 national title along with twin brother Brian Dixon, who was signed as a preferred free agent by the New Orleans Saints. Brandon Dixon also earned first-team All-America honors and was an All-MIAA performer.
In 2012, Gordon coached two Bearcats to All-America honors on defense, safety Nate DeJong and cornerback Brandon Dixon. The defenseive unit led all of Division II with 32 interceptions and was also ranked in the top five nationally in pass defense.
Gordon’s special teams unit has been ranked in the nation’s top tier in most statical categories over his first two seasons. In 2012, Gordon coached Kyle Goodburn who earned second-team All-America honors as a punter.
While at Emporia State, Gordon worked with Danny Webb, who garnered first-team All-America honors in 2010. He also worked with multiple first-team All-MIAA performers while commanding a Hornet defense that ranked in the top half of the conference statistically all four seasons.
Prior to his time at Emporia State, Gordon served as the defensive coordinator at Minnesota State-Mankato from 2005-06 and Pierce Junior College in California from 2003-04.
In 2005 at Minnesota State, Gordon worked with Jordan Malone, an All-American performer on defense.
During his time as a coordinator, Gordon has coached 10 All-Americans and 30 All-Conference players.
Gordon was a linebacker at Northwest in 1995 and 1996 and was a first-team All-MIAA performer as a senior.
He was a graduate assistant at Northwest in 1998 and 1999, working with the linebackers. Gordon was a member of legendary Northwest head coach Mel Tjeerdsma’s first recruiting class and helped play a role in one of college football’s greatest program turnarounds. Gordon credits his coaching philosophies to Scott Bostick, who mentored him both as a student-athlete and as a graduate assistant.
He was a first-team all-conference performer at Blinn Junior College in Texas prior to coming to Northwest.
A native of Quitman, Texas, Gordon earned his bachelor’s degree at Northwest in 1996 and his master’s in 1999. Gordon resides in Maryville with his wife, Jessica, and their children, Dominik and Addisyn.
