 It was the first Bearcat national championship game not coached by Mel Tjeerdsma, who retired after losing in the semi finals in 2010.He was succeeded by Scott Bostwick who had been with Tjeerdsma during his entire tenure at Northwest including Tjeerdsma's initial 0–11 team in 1994.Bostwick passed died 6 months later, before coaching a game as a head coach.