Vince Fillipp, the architect of the highly-ranked Fighting Bee defense, today has been named the 22nd Head Football Coach at St. Ambrose University. He replaces Mike Magistrelli, who resigned in December to pursue professional opportunities outside coaching.

Fillipp, from Cary, Ill., has spent 13 seasons as part of the St. Ambrose football program, including four years as a player. He has served as the SAU Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator since 2017, and added the title of Associate Head Coach in August 2021.

"I am extremely honored and proud to be the next head coach of St. Ambrose University," Fillipp said. "It has been a dream of mine ever since I started coaching to become a head coach, and to be able to do it at my alma mater is extremely rewarding."

This season, Fillipp's Bees led the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League in both sacks (34) and takeaways (23). They led the league in total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense and sacks in 2019. Over the last five seasons, Fillipp coached a pair of SAU All-Americans in defensive ends Chris Overton (2017) and Bernard Buhake (2020), and the 2019 MSFA Defensive Player of the Year in defensive back Jeremiah Jackson Sr.

Fillipp himself was an All-American, earning the honor as a defensive lineman for the Bees in 2008. A four-year starter, he was a two-time team captain and a two-time first team all-conference selection.

After his successful playing career concluded in 2008, Fillipp joined Magistrelli's staff as the defensive line coach for four seasons beginning in 2009. He spent the 2013 season coaching the defensive line at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., before taking over as Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at Kansas Wesleyan in 2014.

He was instrumental in a turnaround at Kansas Wesleyan that saw the Coyotes go 2-9 in 2014 to 10-2 a year later, a season in which KWU qualified for the NAIA Football Championship Series. The success continued in 2016 as the Coyotes finished 9-2 overall. Over his final two years at KWU, his defenses ranked in the top four in the Kansas Conference in both total defense and scoring defense.

In 2017, Fillipp returned to Magistrelli's staff at St. Ambrose.

Fillipp graduated from St. Ambrose in 2009 with a degree in sport management and earned a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership from SAU in 2011.

He and his wife Elitia reside in Davenport.

What they're saying:

"I have had the pleasure of watching Vince Fillipp work with kids, prepare game plans, motivate, and make adjustments during games. He is a gifted football coach who has a passion for St. Ambrose. I have every confidence he will lead our program in a compelling direction."
Mike Holmes
Director of Athletics
St. Ambrose University

"I am so excited for Vince Fillipp and St. Ambrose University. Vince is the perfect coach to lead the program. Not only is he a great football mind, but he brings with it all of the character traits you want in a head coach. Vince is a loyal and selfless person who always puts the players first. His team will represent his personality: tough, disciplined, and they will have fun playing together as a family. He is the perfect fit to be the Head Football Coach at St. Ambrose University."
Matt Drinkall
Tight Ends Coach
Army West Point

"Vince Fillipp is the perfect fit to carry St. Ambrose back to a winning tradition. He has unmatched love and passion for St. Ambrose. Overall, I am excited to know the St. Ambrose football team is in great hands and trust the team will echo his love, determination and will."
John Michaletti
Head Coach
Mount Marty University