State education board investigating former Beckman football coach

DYERSVILLE, Iowa — The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has opened a formal investigation into former Beckman Catholic High School head football coach Cole S. Mather after determining in January that probable cause exists to believe he violated the state’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.

According to the board’s public licensure portal, the alleged breach centers on “an otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student.” No criminal charges have been filed, online court records show, and Mather, reached Wednesday by the Telegraph Herald, declined to comment.

Mather joined Beckman in 2023 as head football coach and also served as a physical education teacher and strength-and-conditioning instructor. A university announcement at the time of his hiring noted he holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education teaching from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University.

Beckman Principal Marcel Kielkucki said Wednesday he could not confirm Mather’s current employment status, citing personnel confidentiality. “All I can share at this point is that it’s a personnel matter and that I’m not able to discuss it,” Kielkucki told the Telegraph Herald.

While the state investigation proceeds, Beckman has moved to fill the vacancy atop its football program. The school announced this week that longtime assistant Ryan Meissner will take over as head coach this fall. Meissner has spent the past 21 seasons on the Blazers’ sideline, including 16 as defensive coordinator, and has also coached track and field, softball, basketball and baseball at the school.

“We look forward to Coach Meissner’s leadership of our program and his ability to build on the recent success of the Blazer football program,” Activities Director Ryan Devereux said in a statement. “Coach Meissner has been a dedicated member of our program and staff for a number of years and will work to achieve our mission of spiritual, academic and personal excellence both in the classroom and on the field with our student-athletes.”

Meissner called the promotion “an honor” and emphasized a philosophy rooted in faith, leadership and family. “I hope to guide these young men while they continue growing in their faith, give them a sense of leadership, teach them about coming together as a family and overcoming challenging obstacles, all while having some fun playing the game of football,” he wrote.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Education referred additional questions to the board’s online licensure page and offered no further comment.