News Channel Nebraska televises all UNK football home games.

KEARNEY, Neb. — After more than 25 years in coaching, Nebraska-Kearney head coach Ryan Held is still looking for new challenges.

That is part of his motivation to change his position coaching responsibilities entering his second season leading the Lopers. Last year, Held coached running backs. This year, he is coaching tight ends.

“The tight ends in our offense, that position is a lot," Held said. "I wanted to do something new and I wanted to have fun with another opportunity and challenge myself to get better.”

Held says the Lopers use tight ends in a variety of ways, making it a complex position.

“You have to do everything," Held said. "You have to know who to block, in-line blocking, on on the perimeter blocking, run deep balls, run short balls. It’s a very complicated position.”

New graduate assistant Riley Myers takes over the running backs room this year. He recently finished playing at Div. ll Northwestern Oklahoma St. and comes from a storied line of high school football coaches.

UNK also added veteran coach Scott Hoffman as assistant tight end coach and former Loper Corey Hoelck as assistant offensive line coach. Hoffman is a former Wayne State head coach and serves as color analyst for UNK football on News Channel Nebraska. Hoelck played three seasons of professional football after an All-American career with the Lopers.