Don Beebe became the Head Football Coach at Aurora University in November of 2018.
In five seasons, Beebe has led AU to a 51-10 overall record and 42-0 with six Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference titles. In the five seasons of the NCAA playoffs in his time, Beebe's Spartans have taken on Saint John's University, Wheaton College, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Coe College and Hope College in the first round. The 2022 Spartans defeated Whitewater 33-28 for the first NCA playoff win in program history then continued the journey into the NCAA quarterfinals for a first time ever after defeating Alma College 48-26. The 2023 Spartans hosted the first home playoff game in AU history and defeated Coe College 20-7.
In his first season, Beebe led the Spartans to a record setting campaign as named D3football.com North Region Coach of the Year, becoming the first AU Head Coach to earn D3football.com North Region Coach of the Year recognition since the awards inception in 2005. Additionally, six Spartans were recognized as All-Region players by D3football.com.
Beebe, who led the Spartans to a 9-2 record in his first season as the program’s head coach led AU to the 2019 NCAA Division III playoffs. The Spartans pushed St. John’s to the brink in the first round of the NCAA postseason. Champions of the 2019 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Beebe was named the NACC Coach of the Year as he led a prolific offense led by Gagliardi Trophy finalist, quarterback Gavin Zimbelman.
In year three, AU went 8-3, a perfect 8-0 in the NACC, winning the conference championship while he was named NACC Coach of the Year. Quarterback Gavin Zimbelman was a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy and NACC Offensive Player of the Year with Sean Reyna being named NACC Defensive Player of the Year and Jaylen Jordan being named NACC Freshman of the Year.
A wide receiver in the NFL for nine years – including six Super Bowl appearances and one championship – Beebe is widely known for his “never-say-die” grit displayed in Super Bowl XXVII when he denied Leon Lett an easy touchdown.
After retiring from the NFL, Beebe founded House of Speed, in Aurora, which specializes in training athletes to perform better by enhancing speed and character. He also coached Aurora Christian High School to two state championships.
Beebe grew up just down the road from Aurora University in Sugar Grove, Ill., graduating from Kaneland High School. He attended AU and played Spartan basketball for one season. While playing football at Chadron State College in western Nebraska, his speed caught the eye of NFL scouts. He was invited to NFL combine trials in Indianapolis in 1989 where he (and Deion Sanders) ran the 40-yard dash in a record-setting 4.25 seconds. Beebe was the Buffalo Bills’ first pick in the draft.
Beebe was the first NFL player to take the field in six Super Bowls -- four with the Buffalo Bills and two with the Green Bay Packers, one of which they won. He holds numerous records, including the Buffalo Bills record for most touchdowns in a game (four). Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy said Beebe “showed what a fighting heart is all about. He gave everything he had all of the time.”
After retiring from the NFL, Beebe founded House of Speed in Aurora with Dr. Jeff Schutt in 1998. House of Speed has trained 100,000 athletes of various levels and sports, including more than 40 professional athletes such as Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo and Michael Turner of the Atlanta Falcons. Beebe coached football at Aurora Christian High School from 2004 to 2013, leading the team to three state championship appearances and two championships.
Beebe is a sought-after motivational speaker and in 2012 published a memoir, “Six Rings from Nowhere” chronicling his journey from construction worker to NFL record holder. He lives in Aurora with his wife, Diana. His son, Chad, is a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings. Two of his three daughters play volleyball (one in high school, one in college) and his third daughter recently gave birth to Beebe’s first grandchild. He is involved in a number of charitable organizations, including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
AURORA UNIVERSITY COACHING RECORD
| YEAR |
OVERALL |
CONFERENCE (Place) |
NCAA Playoff |
| 2019 |
9-2 |
7-0 (1st) |
1st Round |
2020
(Spring 2021) |
3-0 |
.3-0 (1st South) |
No NCAA playoffs |
| 2021 |
8-3 |
8-0 (1st) |
1st Round |
| 2022 |
11-2 |
8-0 (1st) |
Quarterfinals |
| 2023 |
11-1 |
8-0 (1st) |
2nd Round |
| 2024 |
9-2 |
8-0 (1st) |
2nd Round |
| 6 Years |
51-10 (.836) |
42-0 (1.000) |
3-5 |
