A New Era Begins | Mount Mercy Football

Learn about the Lavern T. and Audrey Busse Foundation gift that is making the Busse Football Center a reality.

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Support the launch of Mustang football

Football creates widespread energy—an unmistakable excitement across institutions over the excellence and hard work of the athletes on the field—that is difficult to replicate.

Future Football Saturdays will be more than just campus activities—but memorable events between fans, family, and friends, creating connections for life. Get ready to drive that spirit and enthusiasm at Mount Mercy.

Football will enrich enrollment, create a more vibrant student experience, and provide additional opportunities for students, alumni, and community members to gather on campus.

Football reinforces life lessons within our student-athletes, including:

• Discipline
• Leadership
• Time management
• Physical fitness

Football also brings growth to our academic programs and provides the opportunity to expand our cheer and dance programs and to create a marching band in the future. With so much to gain, Mount Mercy football is poised to make a lasting impact on our community—both on and off the field.

The right man to build a legacy

MD Daniels writes his name in history as Mount Mercy’s first football coach. His enthusiasm and passion for excellence sets the foundation for a winning program. Daniels brings to the Hill an impressive track record as a collegiate head coach and assistant coach, with experience on both sides of the ball.

Over the course of his career, Daniels has coached 27 All-Conference athletes, three NCAA All-Americans, two NAIA All-Americans, a Defensive Player of the Year, and a Cliff Harris award finalist. Daniels was also named to the 2023 AFCA 35 Under 35 Minority Coaches Watch List.

Learn more about Coach Daniels

The new Busse Football Center

The new football facility at Mount Mercy University will support the launch of football in the fall of ’26—and serve student-athletes for years to come. 

The two-story, 8,500-square-feet Busse Football Center will include:

• Locker rooms (home and visitor)
• Athletic training room
• Weight room and workout space
• Team meeting space
• Coaches’ offices
• Lobby and recreation area
• Laundry facilities

Naming opportunities available.

Rinderknecht Associates will serve as general contractor with OPN Architects providing architectural design for the facility. Construction is set to be completed by early 2026, in time to train and practice for the first football season

Carry us to the goal line

The team is taking shape, but a critical piece of the playbook for the future success of Mount Mercy’s football program is happening now—and it involves you.

Through their lead gift, the Lavern T. and Audrey Busse Foundation is offering a $1.5 million match to make this facility a reality. You’re part of our strategy for victory, and the successful launch of this program cannot be accomplished without supporters like you.

To learn more about making a gift, please contact Lonna Drewelow at ldrewelow@mtmercy.edu or 319-286-4408. Online gifts can be made via our giving page or you may send your pledge form via mail using the address below:

Building on a strong foundation

Mount Mercy’s long-established athletics program is led by Athletic Director Paul Gavin ’88, who has guided the addition of new programs and state-of-the-art athletic facilities that currently accommodate more than 600 accomplished student-athletes that come from around the world to play at Mount Mercy.

Mount Mercy student-athletes compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Heart of America Athletic Conference in 22 sports. We strive to be a gold Champions of Character five-star institution each year by keeping our core values—integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership—at the heart of our athletic experience. Student-athletes make up 57% of traditional undergraduates at Mount Mercy and they also perform well in the classroom. Our men’s and women’s athletic programs have both recorded the highest GPAs in the Heart of America Conference!