DES MOINES, IOWA ? Randy Ball and Tom Lichtenberg, who have a combined 39 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 25 years as college head coaches, have joined the Drake University football staff.

New Drake head football coach Steve Loney also disclosed that Matt Jeter has been promoted to defensive coordinator.

This will mark the third time Lichtenberg and Loney have been on the same coaching staff.

Loney was a graduate assistant at Iowa State in 1974 during the same time Lichtenberg served as assistant football coach under Earle Bruce. Loney served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Morehead State, under Lichtenberg in 1979-80.

Lichtenberg, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, brings 23 years of collegiate coaching experience to Drake, having served as head coach at Morehead State (1979-80), Maine (1989) and Ohio (1990-95).

"I have known Tom Lichtenberg for 32 years," said Loney. "We are all very lucky to have Tom step away from retirement to accept this position. To do so, demonstrates his belief in our goals and vision for Drake football. He will be invaluable to me in my position as head coach and will be an unbelievable role model for all that come in contact with him. His love for our youth and obvious successful coaching background make him an integral piece to this puzzle as we move the program forward."

Ball posted a 98-83-1 record in 16 years as a head coach at Western Illinois (1990-98) and Missouri State (1999-2005)

The winningest coach in Western Illinois history with 64 victories, Ball was also the nation's winningest I-AA coach from 1996 to 1998, taking the Fighting Leathernecks to three NCAA playoff appearances.. Ball's WIU tenure was capped in 1998 when the Leathernecks recorded their best-ever I-AA finish, beating Montana and Florida A&M before losing at top-ranked, top-seeded and unbeaten Georgia Southern in the semifinal round. Western Illinois' 31 wins were more than any other I-AA school from 1996 to 1998.

"Randy Ball brings to us a great background on both sides of the ball that will be an invaluable resource for our defensive staff," Loney added. "As former head coach, he will be a good sounding board for me and will have an immediate impact on our program. I got to know Randy 30 years ago and have watched his career develop. His success is undeniable and I am very excited to have him join our staff."

Jeter joined the Drake coaching staff in 2003, handling the defensive backs as well as serving as the recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs.

"Since my hiring, Matt Jeter has impressed me with his thoroughness and grasp of the challenges facing the Drake program during this time of transition," said Loney. "It quickly became apparent to me that he has the respect of the players and is ready for the defensive leadership position on this staff. I am excited to watch his talents unfold."

Before taking over the reins at Ohio, Lichtenberg served one season (1989) as the head football coach at the University of Maine where he was the Yankee Conference Coach of the Year, and one season as the assistant head coach at Northern Iowa (1988).

Lichtenberg also was an assistant coach at Ohio State under Earle Bruce. He was the quarterbacks and receivers coach for the 1986 and 1987 seasons, having the opportunity to develop the talent of former Buckeye great Cris Carter.

Lichtenberg also was offensive coordinator at Bowling Green in 2000 and served as an assistant coach with the Columbus (Ohio) Destroyers in the Arena Football League, under Earle Bruce, in 2004.

Before a three-year administrative stint at Iowa State as an assistant athletic director (1983-86), he spent two seasons at Notre Dame as the offensive coordinator, running backs and quarterbacks coach.

Prior to Notre Dame, Lichtenberg was head coach at Morehead State from 1979-80 and spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Eagles. He also served as the offensive coordinator at Iowa State from 1974-78.

Lichtenberg was a three-year football letterwinner and one-year track letterwinner at the University of Louisville. He earned a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education from Louisville in 1962 and a master of education and secondary administration from Xavier University in 1966.

He and his wife, Sue Ann, have five children: Tammy, Michelle Tom Jr., Susan and Bubba. They also have 12 grandchildren.

Ball was Western Illinois' offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1983 through 1989 under coach Bruce Craddock. Ball became the Leathernecks' head coach in 1990 after Craddock died of cancer in February of 1990.

After finishing tied for second in the Gateway five times in six years from 1991 through 1996, Ball took the Leathernecks to Gateway Football Conference titles in 1997 and 1998. He became Western Illinois' all-time winningest coach in 1998. Ball also led Western Illinois to the playoffs for the first time as a head coach in 1991.

The 31-8 record Ball fashioned from 1996 through 1998 gave him the best two-year and three-year season records in Western Illinois history and the 11 wins in both 1997 and 1998 are the most ever for one season at the school. The 31-8 record from 1996 through 1998 also made Western Illinois the winningest I-AA program in the nation over those three seasons.

In nine seasons as head coach, Ball had a 64-41-1 (.608) record at Western Illinois, including a 35-18 Gateway record. After finishing in a tie for second in the league five times in six years from 1991 through 1996, Ball took Western Illinois to Gateway titles in 1997 at 6-0 and in 1998 with a 5-1 conference standard. Ball was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award as I-AA National Coach of the Year in 1997 and 1998.

A native of Muskogee, Okla., Ball played for three MIAA title teams from 1969 to 1972 at Truman State and was a two-time all-MIAA offensive guard. He graduated from Truman State in 1973 with a degree in physical education and got a master's degree in 1977 from the University of Missouri. After four years as a high school coach, Ball coached at Missouri Western (1977), Illinois State (1978-80), and at Truman State (1982) before moving to WIU in 1983.

Ball and his wife, Sandi, have two children. Andy is a graduate of Central Missouri State and is in his second year as an assistant football coach at Missouri-Rolla in Rolla, Mo., and Katie graduated from Missouri State in 2003 and now lives in St. Louis.