Matt Middleton has no illusions about the tasks facing him and his team in his first season as Kansas Wesleyan's football coach.
"We're a new staff," Middleton said Monday during the Kansas Conference's Football Media Day. "I tell this to the guys all the time that it doesn't matter what happened a year ago, it matters what happens now. We live in a world of what have you done for me lately? We know everything's on paper but at the end of the day we're going to be in a division that's really, really talented."
The Coyotes are paired this fall with Friends, Southwestern, McPherson, Saint Mary and Sterling in the revamped and rugged Dr. Gene Bissell Division. Friends and Southwestern qualified for NAIA postseason play last fall and were tied for 19th in the final poll while McPherson was 8-3 and just missed the playoffs. All three were in the Dr. Ted Kessinger Division.
KWU also advanced to the NAIA postseason after winning the Bissell Division.
"I would venture to say that the (Bissell) is one of the toughest divisions in NAIA football from top to bottom," Middleton said. "We're just trying to do our very best to be competitive but we're chasing those guys that have done it. We know for us to be where we want to be we've got to be able to compete with those teams that are top tier, not only in the division but in the country."
The Coyotes were fourth in the Bissell Division in the coaches poll and third in the media poll conducted Monday. The polls were identical with Friends first followed by Southwestern, then Saint Mary fifth and Sterling sixth. McPherson and KWU traded spots in the poll, KWU picked third in the media poll, McPherson third by the coaches.
Evangel was the favorite in the Kessinger Division in both polls. The coaches picked Tabor second then Avila, Bethel, Ottawa and Bethany; Bethel was second in the media survey followed by Tabor, Avila, Ottawa and Bethany.
Middleton came to KWU in December after two seasons as quarterbacks/fullbacks coach at Division II powerhouse Harding. He understands the pitfalls and possibilities of tough competition.
"The way the divisions work there's a really good football team that is at home at the end of November which is a tough thing to deal with," he said. "There are three teams (in the Bissell) that I think are top 25 in the country that will have won a lot of football games. And then you have Saint Mary with what they have coming back and where they're headed in Sterling."
A fast start in the first six games against the teams in the Kessinger Division is imperative, Middleton said.
"We all know that early in the schedule matters, it matters a lot. It's based off of who wins that gets in the playoffs. We make no mistake about it the first half of our schedule is super important for us to try to find a rhythm and find some success," he said.
That's not to say he's taking anyone for granted starting with the opener against Ottawa on August 30 at JRI Hospitality Stadium and Graves Family Sports Complex.
"We face some talented teams early," Middleton said. "Two years ago (Ottawa) was in the playoffs. Last year on paper was their down year but if you look at how close they were in so many of those games that's a super talented football team as well. So, we've got our work cut out for us across the board."
Middleton and his staff signed a large and talented recruiting class during the spring and summer.
"We had a complete roster overhaul based off of attrition and sheer numbers that left before I got here so it has definitely been a grind," he said. "But we're super excited about the staff in place and young men we brought in.
"We've tried to get guys that have played significant football to come in and help us to be competitive immediately. The KCAC is a very competitive and strong conference with a lot of really good football teams."