ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict and Director of Athletics Kelly Anderson-Diercks announced Tuesday (Feb. 3) that Joe Bartos has been hired as the inaugural head coach of the school's flag football program.
Bartos brings a decade of coaching and leadership experience to CSB. Since 2015, he has been the head football coach at Little Falls (Minn.) High School, where he oversaw all aspects of the school's grades 7–12 football programs, including vision, planning and daily operations. During that time, he also assumed head coaching duties for both the boys and girls track and field teams at the high school while working as a fifth-grade teacher at Lindbergh Elementary School.
In addition to his high school coaching responsibilities, Bartos serves as a senior youth development coach in the Minnesota Vikings organization. In that role, he assists with coaching and execution of youth and high school football initiatives, including Vikings Summer Camps, training camp clinics, Vikings of Tomorrow, Vikings Kids Club Clinics and other football events designed to grow participation in the sport throughout the Midwest.
Bartos will lead the Bennies' first flag football program, which was officially announced as a varsity sport at CSB last October.
"I am excited to join CSB+SJU to build a championship women's flag football team," Bartos said. "The College of Saint Benedict is uniquely positioned to help flag football continue its rapid growth across Minnesota and the United States. The opportunity to work with, and for, these athletes is incredible."
Bartos received his undergraduate education from the University of Minnesota Morris, where he was a three-year letter winner at cornerback for the Cougars. Bartos also holds master's degrees from Saint Mary's University (Minn.) and the American College of Education.
Anderson-Diercks cited the experience and enthusiasm Bartos will bring as the program prepares for its inaugural season.
"We are thrilled to have Joe Bartos join our athletic department staff," Anderson-Diercks said. "Joe brings a variety of experiences that uniquely position him to launch Bennie flag football. Throughout the interview process, his drive and passion were evident, and he demonstrated a clear vision for building CSB flag football into a championship program."
The Bennies will begin competition this spring as members of the Midwest College Women's Flag Football League. CSB will join Augsburg, Augustana (S.D.), Bethel, Concordia, Gustavus, Northwestern (Minn.), St. Olaf, Southwest Minnesota State, and the University of Wisconsin–Stout in the conference. The league completed its inaugural season in spring 2025.
The Bennie flag football team will practice and compete at the Schoenecker Athletic Fields on the College of Saint Benedict campus and will have a dedicated locker room and office space in Richarda Hall.
