Coaching Staff

Viking Football Head Coach Scott Pethtel enters his fourth season in 2009 at North Park after coming from the University at Buffalo (Buffalo, N.Y.) where he was the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant. Buffalo is an NCAA Division I-A program. In addition to his tenure at UB, Pethtel has coached in various capacities at the University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio), Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.), and his alma mater, Adrian College (Adrian, Mich.). Former colleagues describe Pethtel as "a people person with a tireless work ethic," "a man who knows himself and knows football," and "a coach for whom I would want my son to play." Pethtel graduated from Adrian College, where he was captain of the football and wrestling teams and received numerous athletic accolades, including Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year (1975) and two inductions into the Athletic Hall of Fame (1985, 2004). His career highlights include coaching numerous championship teams within the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Mid-American Conference (MAC), as well as meaningful work off the field with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and community service programs. Pethtel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Adrian College, as well as a Master’s degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. Coach P and his wife Cyndy live blocks from campus in Chicago.

Winter enters his first season with the Vikings. He brings a solid background and depth of experience in coordinating offenses to the Viking football program. In addition to serving as head coach at Johnsburg High School for the past three years, he has also been the head football coach at Anderson High School in Anderson, Indiana, Ritenour High School and Oakville High School, both in St. Louis, Missouri. What’s more is that Todd’s experience as an assistant coach at Washington University, St. Louis gives him an understanding of Division III college football at a very competitive school. Not only is Coach Winter an accomplished teacher of the game, but he was solid player as well. As an undergraduate, Todd was a three-year letter winner at the University of Evansville and he earned a partial scholarship to play at Saint Joseph’s College. And, because of his connections to the high school coaches in three different states, Todd has the ability to help out tremendously on the recruiting front as well. He is a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association and is a former member of the Indiana High School Football Coaches Association where he was the Director of Region 5 from 2005-2006. He has also served as a member of the 5A IFCA Rating Board and as a member of 5A All-State Selection Committee.

Hoffman enters his first year with the Vikings. He comes from John Carroll University where he was the assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator for the past nine years.  He will serve North Park as recruiting coordinator, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Hoffman brings twenty years of coaching experience and a solid background of success to the Vikings’ program.  During his time at John Carroll in University Heights, Ohio, he helped lead the 2002 Blue Streaks to an Eastern Regional Championship, as well as a semi-final appearance in the NCAA, Division III playoffs.  Prior to serving at John Carroll University, Hoffman served as assistant head coach at Lake Forest College for two seasons and was a graduate assistant offensive line coach at the University of Maryland at the Division I level.  Hoffman’s impressive coaching resume also includes a national championship at Allegheny College and successful stints at Washington University in St. Louis and at Kenston High School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In addition to his successful coaching experience Hoffman earned accolades as a college athlete, as well.  As a four-year varsity letter winner in football at John Carroll University, he garnered All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors and earned the Most Valuable Lineman Award in 1988. As a high school football player at St. Joseph’s in South Bend, Indiana, Hoffman was a starter on the 1984 Indiana High School Athletic Association state semifinalist team, and earned All-State honors as an offensive guard in the 1985 season. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Illinois and Indiana High School Football Coaches Associations. Coach Hoffman and his wife, Tracie, have been married for 11 years and have two daughters; Emily (8) and Andrea (6).

Rausch enters his first year with North Park. He comes from Manchester College in Manchester, Indiana where he served as the defensive line coach for two seasons. In addition to coaching, he was responsible for on- and off-campus recruiting of 64 high schools in 23 counties in west central Indiana and a secondary area in the state of Illinois. Prior to his stint at Manchester, he was a defensive volunteer assistant coach at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana for a season where led the offensive scout team and assisted with on-campus recruiting days, and prepared recruiting material for off-campus recruiting, among other numerous duties. He also served as a volunteer football coach at Tipton High School in Tipton, Indiana and as a football recruiting intern at the University of Indiana. As a player, Rausch was a member of the offensive and defensive line at Winamac Community High School, where he helped lead the team to a Class 2A sectional championship, a regional championship and a Midwest Conference championship. He finished his playing career at DePauw University as a member of the defensive line, where he earned a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship (2005), All-SCAC Honorable Mention honors (2005) and Defensive Player of the Week vs. University of the South – Sewanee in 2005.

Watts enters his third season as the wide receivers coach. Watts completed one of the most prolific seasons in North Park University history as a player in 2006. He was named a Division III Honorable Mention All-American as well as earning First Team All-CCIW honors as a wide receiver and kick returner after garnering 1,456 all-purpose yards. He also spent the Spring of 2007 playing for the Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League coached by legendary Chicago Bear Steve McMichael. Watts picked up First Team All-CIFL Honors as a kick returner in 2007.

Hilty enters his first year with the Vikings. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the game after having served as an assistant varsity football coach at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, Ohio from 2004-2008 and as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the Vaalerenga Trolls American Football Organization in Oslo, Norway in 2005. In addition, he was the defensive coordinator for the Helsinki Wolverines of the Maple League in Helsinki, Finland in 2004. As a player, before signing a professional contract with the Helsinki Wolverines, where he played in 10 games and recorded 79 tackles and grabbed a Maple League-leading five interceptions, Hilty was a four-year letter winner as a defensive player at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. He earned Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1999 and Comeback Player of the Year in 2002. He played high school football at Bishop Watterson from 1996-1998.

Joe Del Principe graduated from the University of Hawaii in May, 2008 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Travel Industry Management. Del Principe recently relocated from Honolulu, Hawaii to Chicago, Illinois and is currently entering his first year as the running back and kicking coach at North Park University. Del Principe was a scout for Ball State University, Saint Joseph’s College, and the University of La Verne. He played AFL2 for the Hawaiian Islanders in Honolulu, Hawaii for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He was the kicking coach and kicking game coordinator for the state champions, Iolani High School in Honolulu. Del Principe was also the Special Teams’ coordinator and running backs coach at Damien Memorial High School. Del Principe’s family currently resides in Rensselaer, Indiana. He is the son of William and Cathy Del Principe, and has two older brothers, Bill and David.

Dubicz brings a wealth of knowledge to the Vikings’ program in his first season. After a solid playing career at Maine East High School in Park Ridge and Chaminade in Hollywood, Florida as well as Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he coached high school football in Virginia and six years in San Diego, California, helping Carlsbad High School win back-to-back California Interscholastic Federation championships in 2005 and 2006. Dubicz currently teaches full-time at Proviso West High School in Hillside. He has been married for 28 years to his wife Julie and has three daughters Robyn, Jill and Amanda. His grandson Noah, who is the second man of the house, is 2½ years old.