Chadron State College Athletics

Clint Sasse, a CSC alum, joined the Chadron State coaching staff full-time in 2019. He was then elevated to defensive coordinator ahead of the 2021 season and promoted to associate head coach/defensive coordinator ahead of the 2026 season.

Sasse's defenses have consistently ranked among the best in the RMAC and in NCAA Division II. Chadron State has allowed fewer than 22 points and 320 yards per game in three of Sasse's five seasons as defensive coordinator. 

The defense played a critical role in Chadron State's 2025 season that saw the Eagles go 8-4 and reach the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2012. Sasse coached RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Logan O'Brien, who won four RMAC Defensive Player of the Week awards and AFCA All-America honors.

As a unit, the CSC defense allowed 308 yards per game (the fewest yards per game in the RMAC and 25th in DII), and 20.7 points per game (second-fewest in RMAC, 33rd in DII). The defense also led the league in fewest passing yards allowed (182.8), fewest first downs allowed (210) and fumbles recovered (10). Along with O'Brien, defensive tackle Tanner True, safety Dax Yeradi and cornerback Jadon Bowen earned First Team All-RMAC recognition while defensive ends William Stemler and Ryder True earned Second-Team All-RMAC nods along with linebacker Cooper Walton. 

In 2024, Sasse's defense allowed 19.3 points per game (third in RMAC) and 288.1 yards per game (second in RMAC). The Eagles held opponents to 21 points or fewer in 8 of 11 contests  and under 13 points in four of those games. The Eagles ranked 15th in NCAA Division II and second in the RMAC by allowing only 156.1 passing yards per game, and ranked fourth in the nation by racking up five defensive touchdowns. 

The defense was home to both of Chadron State's First Team All-RMAC selections in 2024, with defensive end Hunter O'Connor winning his third straight first team selection and safety Dax Yeradi also earning first-team honors. Cornerback Omar Ali, linebacker Logan O'Brien, safety Tucker Peterson and defensive tackle Tanner True were all honorable mention all-conference.

In his first full season as coordinator in 2021, Sasse led a defensive unit which yielded only 22 points per game and held opponents to less than 150 yards rushing and under 200 passing, on average. The defense also allowed one of the lowest third-down conversion rates in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Senior cornerback Bobby Peele earned All-RMAC First Team honors under his watch in 2021. In 2022, four defensive players - Tayven Bray, Hunter O'Connor, Brendan Brehmer and Peele - received all-conference recognition. O'Connor was also an All-Region and All-America selection. Under Sasse's coaching, O'Connor broke the RMAC single-game tackle-for-loss record with nine and the CSC single-season sack record with 16 sacks on the season. 

As linebackers coach, Sasse coached linebacker Tyler Lewis to All-RMAC Second Team honors in 2019, and Wilson led the conference in total tackles.

Sasse came to Chadron State following a brief stint at Montana Tech, where he was hired early in 2019 as a full-time defensive line coach and assistant special teams coordinator.

Prior to Tech, Sasse was head football coach for two seasons at Lee Williams High in Kingman, Arizona, where he was head coach for two years and defensive coordinator for one. 

Sasse was the coaching assistant responsible for defensive backs at Chadron State while obtaining his graduate degree in 2014 and 2015. Under his watch cornerback Jordan Jones led the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in pass breakups as a sophomore in 2014, sophomore safety Ryan Wood made All-RMAC First Team, senior cornerback Lane Haller made Second Team, and junior safety Cole Montgomery garnered honorable mention. In 2015 Montgomery and Wood received honorable mention.

As a safety for the Eagles from 2009 to 2013, Sasse accumulated 119 total tackles and five tackles-for-loss for 16 yards, adding two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He played in 37 games, starting 16, as CSC compiled a 31-14 record and made the 2012 NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Sasse is a native of Martin, South Dakota, and is married to another prominent CSC athletics figure, the former Kelsy Wood. A native of Hemingford, Wood was a two-time All-American in the heptathlon and 4x400 relays for CSC track and field in 2016. The couple have a son, Kal, and a daughter, Lilee.