Meet the MSU-Northern football staff

The Montana State University-Northern coaching staff has had to really adjust on the fly during this coronavirus pandemic. From not having spring ball, to not being able to meet and work with players in person, to using Zoom, to not having games to plan for, just about everything coaching football is different right now.

And yet, that's why Northern third-year head coach Andrew Rolin is so excited and so appreciative of the coaching staff he';s assembled for what is now, a spring 2021 season. Rolin added two new coaches to the staff this past offseason, and he said at the Frontier Media Day back in July that, it's a staff that is as good as it gets.

"I'm really excited about our staff," Rolin said. "We brought two new guys that are tremendous coaches, and we're very lucky to have them here. And the coaches we have already here, they're doing such a good job for us. They're great guys, great coaches, and I'm extremely proud of our staff as a whole. We're a better football program because of these coaches."

Here's a Look at the 2020-2021 Northern Coaching Staff

Rich Stubler, Defensive Coordinator

Coach Stubler brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Northern Football after 50 years in the profession. Stubler comes to Havre after spending last season as the Defensive Coordinator for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League. He has spent the past 25 years in the CFL as either a Coordinator or Head Coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders, and the BC Lions. Prior to the CFL, Stubler had assistant coaching/ defensive coordinating stops at Colorado, Colorado State, SMU, New Mexico State, and the University of Oregon. His arrival comes at an exciting time for the young Lights football program.

CJ Robertson, Offensive Line/Run Game

Robertson has been with Northern since 2018. Before his arrival he spent two years at the University of Minnesota Duluth where Robertson was a graduate assistant coach, specifically working with the Bulldog tight ends. He developed an NSIC 2nd (2016-17) and 1st (2017-18) team all-conference tight end Keynon Phillips. Robertson is responsible for the Tight-Ends academic performance, transforming a 2.4 overall group GPA to a 3.24 GPA. Robertson helped coach a team that was the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) North Division Champions 2016-2017 along with a first round playoff appearance (10-2). In Robertsons second year, UMD was the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) North Division Champions 2017-2018, and went on to play in the Mineral Water Bowl (9-3). He signed on with Bulldogs in the winter of 2016, having spent the previous four years serving as an assistant coach Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ill.. A Neuqua Valley High School alumnus, Robertson oversaw the team's defensive linemen, linebackers, and special teams. During Robertson's four-season stay, the Wildcats went 38-9 overall during his four-year stay and made it the state semifinals in 2012 and the quarterfinals one year later. He joined the coaching ranks shortly after putting the finishing touches on his collegiate playing career at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where he was a three-year starting tight end (2009-11). In 2008 and 2009 the Salukis won the now titled MVFC conference championship. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale advanced to the playoffs in 2007, 2008, 2009, and that 2007 club advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA FCS playoffs and ranked sixth in the final American Football Coaches Association poll. Robertson holds a Master's of Education degree from UMD in 2018 and attained B.S. degrees in both marketing and management from Southern Illinois in 2012.

Donald Celiscar, Defensive Backs

During seven consecutive seasons of college football experience that includes four years of playing experience, Celiscar built his foundation of knowledge needed to help mold young men into determined, successful and driven individuals not only on the field but off the field, as well. Celiscar's experience includes coaching defensive backs - corners and safeties - along with special teams. Learning under the tutelage of some of the sport's elite head coaches, such as P.J. Fleck and Bill Cubit, has further increased his knowledge of the game, which he brings to the Northern program. Celiscar joined the Minnesota football staff as a graduate assistant in January 2018, working on the defensive side of the ball. Celiscar started 40 of 48 games at defensive back at Western Michigan from 2011 to 2014 and spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons playing for current Minnesota head coach Fleck. He finished his Bronco career with 10 interceptions, 45 pass breakups and 247 tackles. Celiscar led the nation in passes defended per game (1.6) in 2014. He was named First Team All-MAC by Phil Steele, NCAA Statistical Champion for passes defended as a senior after finishing the year with four interceptions and 17 pass breakups, and earned Second Team All-MAC 2013 and Third Team All-MAC 2012. Celiscar also received many MAC West Defensive Player of the Week awards. He earned his degree in recreation and a minor in general business at Western Michigan and participated in the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He also was invited to the NFL Combine. Celiscar spent time with the Indianapolis Colts in 2015, but did not compete in any games. Celiscar also spent time in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Blake Wilson, Defensive Line

Wilson will be entering his second season as the Defensive Line Coach with the Montana State University-Northern football program for the 2020 season. He joined the Lights after spending the 2018 season at The University of San Diego as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach. A San Diego native, Wilson began his collegiate career at Southwestern Junior College in Chula Vista, CA. As a two year starter for the Jags at middle linebacker, Wilson earned All- Conference honors in 2014 as the team's captain leading them to a 19-3 record in two seasons and back-to-back Bowl Victories. After his time with the Jags, Wilson earned a scholarship to DIV.1 FCS Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. Wilson was a member of the back-to-back Big South Conference Champions with the Bucs in 2015 and 2016, including back-to-back FCS Playoff appearances including a Quarter Final appearance in the 2015 season.

Tommy Wilson, Cornerbacks

Wilson is in his second season as a Northern assistant. He joined the Northern staff after two years as the starting Quarterback for the Lights. Last season as a senior, Wilson threw for 2377 yards and had a total of 20 touchdowns. He also finished 6th in the conference in individual offense and helped lead Northern to 4th overall in total pass offense. In His career at Northern he threw for 4186 yards and had a total of 33 touchdowns. Tommy is from Fresno, California and graduated in the spring of 2019 with a major in Health Promotion from Montana State University-Northern.

Sam Mix, Running Backs/Tight Ends

Mix has coached with the Lights for two seasons. Sam joins the Northern staff after playing four years of Wide Receiver for the Lights. As a senior in 2018, Sam played a significant role at Wide Receiver where he averaged 9.7 yds per reception. A Seattle native, Mix will recruit the state of Washington, while also covering Butte and Helena in Montana. Sam graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from MSU-Northern, with a minor in Small Business Management and Psychology.