Collin Bevins hired as Clarinda football coach

CLARINDA — Former Northwest Missouri State All-American and Creston athletic standout Collin Bevins has been hired as head football coach at Clarinda High School.

Bevins’ hiring, first reported by KMA Radio of Shenandoah on Tuesday, is pending school board approval later this month.

Bevins is currently playing defensive end for the 4-0 Iowa Barnstormers indoor football team in Des Moines. He plans to move to Clarinda soon.

At Clarinda, Bevins will also reportedly be middle school wrestling coach. He does not have a position on the teaching staff. He majored in corporate wellness and fitness at Northwest, with a minor in coaching.

A former Bearcat teammate of Bevins, Bedford native Cole Bonde, is co-head football coach at Lenox High School. Another former teammate, Cody Mathewson, is coach at ACGC.

Bevins has ties to Clarinda. He was 6 years old when his father, Jeff, moved from duties at Clarinda that included middle school athletic director to become high school athletic director in Chariton in 2000. Jeff Bevins worked in Clarinda 19 years beginning in 1981. The family moved to Creston in 2004.

Bevins replaces Roger Williams as Clarinda head coach. Williams was head coach two seasons and spent more than three decades as an assistant in the program, according to KMA. The Cardinals were 3-6 last fall.

“Roger resigned pending a suitable replacement,” said Josh Porter, Clarinda athletic director. “We wanted to find the right fit for Clarinda and we think we have that. You know, Collin was born and raised for a time in Clarinda, his mom (Michelle Bevins) still lives here, and it’s close to Maryville and Creston. I think it’s a good fit for Collin and for the Clarinda program as he takes over as football coach, weight room supervisor and middle school wrestling coach. He comes from a great program in Creston and he went to Northwest Missouri State. There’s not a better culture or program than Northwest.”

Bevins was working as a graduate assistant coach for Bearcat coach Rich Wright when he had the opportunity to pursue professional football. He said he’s thrilled to have a head coaching opportunity.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” he said. “I’m anxious to get started.”

Bevins, who turns 25 on June 16, was co-MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and AP Little All-America first team selection during his career as a three-time Division II national champion at Northwest Missouri State.

He also spent time in the NFL camp of the Arizona Cardinals and was contacted by the Cleveland Browns. Bevins entered the probationary program as a pit crew member for Hendrick Motorsports last year before recently moving back to Iowa and joining the Barnstormers.

Bevins said his tenure with the Barnstormers is to be determined.

“When May rolls around I want to be working with the kids,” Bevins said. “We’ll be jumping into it quick at the Northwest team camp in June.”