(Atchison, KS) — After a 12-2 season where the Benedictine Ravens saw plenty of success, the accomplishments didn’t stop with head coach and Harlan-alum Joel Osborn taking home the AFCA-NAIA Coach of the Year award. This was Osborn’s second year in a row leading the Ravens to the NAIA Championship Series Semi-Finals where Benedictine fell just short of Grand View University 17-10. In his first five seasons as head coach, Osborn has a record of 54-10. Osborn says that the Ravens have garnered a lot of respect as a football program throughout the nation:
When you look at Osborn’s time in high school, it becomes clear how he ended up seeing success as a coach. Before his time on the sideline, Osborn was a multi-sport athlete for the Cyclones, where he was coached by his dad Mitch, who retired as the third-winningest boys basketball coach in the state last year. Osborn says one of the key aspects of coaching that he took away from his father was his positivity and relationship-building as a head coach:
On the gridiron, Osborn was coached by the legendary Curt Bladt. In 2003, Osborn would enter his name in the record books as the quarterback with the 17th most passing yards in a season for 11-man, among names like Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive back Cooper DeJean. Osborn says he was most inspired by Bladt’s tough-mindedness as a head coach.
Coach Osborn will look to continue his excellent coaching in the 2026 season.
Complete Interview with Head Coach Joel Osborn:
