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Ripon College Athletics

The Official Athletics Site of the Ripon College Red Hawks
mike hepp headshot

Mike Hepp

  • Title
    Associate Head Football Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Recruiting Coordinator
  • Email
    heppm@ripon.edu
  • Phone
    (920) 748-8746
Mike Hepp is in his second season as the Defensive Coordinator at Ripon College. Hepp previously served as the Assistant Football Coach for the Red Hawks, where he was in charge of coaching the safeties.

In his first season of 2023, Clay Ritschard and Gavin Engh each entered the Ripon single-season record books with 96 tackles and 7 sacks, respectively. Hepp headed up a defense that held six opponents under 24 points and held Lake Forest to its first game without a rushing touchdown all season. Through the air, the Foresters had their second-lowest passing yard total on the season as the Red Hawks forced 3 fumbles and 3 interceptions for its highest single-game takeaway total since forcing 8 turnovers against Grinnell on September 29, 2018.
 
A 2012 graduate of Ripon College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Hepp played four years as an offensive lineman for the Ripon Red Hawks. He went on to earn a Master of Education degree in Instructional Technology in 2021 from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.

While at Fort Hays State, Hepp coached the Safeties, while also serving stints as the Assistant Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant Defensive Line Coach. While at Fort Hays, Hepp was part of a coaching staff that set a school record for single season wins, while clinching their first MIAA Championship in school history and first postseason appearance in 20 years.

Prior to his final stint with Fort Hays, Hepp served as the Defensive Line Coach for the University of Minnesota-Crookston. He has also served as running backs coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas and offensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Campbellsport High School in Campbellsport, Wis.

Prior to coming to Ripon College, Hepp has coached four student-athletes to spend time in the NFL, three student-athletes earning All-American honors and over 20 All-Conference players.