Tom Shea, a former defensive coordinator at Upper Iowa University, was named the program's new football coach today.

Shea, who led the Peacock defense from 2004-06, spent the past two seasons as the head coach at Dakota State University, an NAIA institution in Madison, S.D.

This will be Shea's sixth head coaching position, including Peru State in 1990 where his program won the NAIA Division II national title. He was also named the NAIA's National Coach of the Year that season.

"The search committee was guided by the question of who at this time can provide the dynamic leadership required to build the Upper Iowa football team for long-term success," interim director of athletics Kent McElvania said in a statement. "The committee developed a matrix of nine desired qualities based on past successful UIU head coaches, particularly the storied Doc Dorman and Eb Eischeid, who between them successfully guided the UIU football teams for 59 years.

"Coach Shea brings the desired dynamic leadership both on and off the field. He has demonstrated success in graduating his student-athletes and teaching competitive greatness, defined as being at your best when your best is needed through hard work, persistence and fearlessness."

Shea replaces Mike Knoll, who was dismissed in the second half of the season by the university. The Peacocks were 2-9 this past fall.

Read more on the hiring in Tuesday's Courier