Ottawa ? Kent Kessinger, offensive coordinator at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., is the new head football coach at Ottawa University.

Kessinger replaces Patrick Ross, who left after two seasons to coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

“He is a man of character and a proven recruiter,” OU athletic director Andy Carrier said Wednesday after naming Kessinger to the post.

Kessinger was an NAIA All-American offensive lineman in 1990 and 1991 at Bethany College in his hometown of Lindsborg. His father, Ted, has been Bethany’s head football coach for the last 27 years.

Kessinger has spent the last nine seasons at Augustana, the last seven as offensive coordinator. He has also coached at Bethany and at Mankato (Minn.) State.

“This is a great fit for me,” Kessinger said. “This is where I want to be.”

Ottawa U. compiled a 9-1 regular-season record in 2003, then bowed to Northwestern (Iowa), 36-33, in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.

Ottawa and Bethany each belong to the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, so Kessinger will coach against his father this fall.