HAMBURG, N.Y. — Hilbert College Athletics is excited to announce the promotion of John Noel and the addition of Ethan Sheirer to Ted Egger's football coaching staff. Noel, who has been working as the Hawks' Defensive Line coach since 2023, will now shift to the other side of the ball as the team's Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, while Sheirer will serve as the program's new Offensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.

Noel's football journey began as a three‑year letter winner at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, where he played as both a tight end and defensive lineman from 1994–97. During his collegiate career, he played under former Buffalo Bills assistant and current Miami Dolphins Special Teams Coordinator Chris Tabor. He completed his bachelor's degree at Central Methodist in 2000 and is currently pursuing a master's degree from Concordia University Irvine.

In addition to his collegiate playing career, Noel served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve (1998–2006) and continued competing at a high level during that time as a member of the River City Rage indoor football team in St. Charles, Missouri (2003–04).

Noel entered the coaching profession in 2004, beginning with two seasons mentoring the defensive line at Cumberland University (2004–05). He then moved into the professional ranks, serving as the offensive and defensive line coach for the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the Arena Football League from 2006–07.

His career includes a wide range of leadership roles in high school athletics throughout Alabama. Noel coached wide receivers, defensive linemen, and coordinated special teams at Westminster Christian Academy in Huntsville (2006–09), followed by a multi‑role tenure at Lyman Ward as Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Offensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach, and Assistant Athletic Director (2009–10).

From 2010–16, Noel served as Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, and Offensive and Defensive Coordinator at the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. He later returned to the pro game as Defensive Coordinator and Vice President of Player Personnel for the River City Raiders in 2016, and most recently held the Defensive Coordinator position at ECC in 2022.

Noel joined Hilbert College in 2023 and has worked with multiple position groups, including defensive line, linebackers, quarterbacks, and B‑backs during spring 2024. In addition to his roles as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, Noel will also serve as Assistant Head Coach.

"Coach Noel was a part of our inaugural staff and has worked hard over the last 3 years to build trust and rapport with our athletes and coaching staff. He has been around a lot of football, has great energy, work ethic and will help elevate our offense and our program as a whole," said coach Egger.

Sheirer joins the Hawks after a successful tenure at multiple collegiate programs across the country, bringing with him extensive experience in offensive line development, recruiting operations, and program-building at the Division I and Division III levels.

Sheirer's most recent stint came at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he served as Offensive Line Coach, Recruiting Coordinator, Director of social media, and Strength & Conditioning Liaison. In that multifaceted role, he led all aspects of offensive line development, designed and executed practice plans, evaluated recruiting prospects nationwide, and enhanced the program's digital presence. He also played a key role in aligning training initiatives between the football staff and strength personnel to support optimal player performance.

Prior to his time at Ohio Wesleyan, Sheirer spent one season serving as an Offensive Line Graduate Assistant at Boston College. There, he helped guide one of the ACC's most productive offensive line units, working closely with First Team All‑ACC selections Ozzy Trapilo and Drew Kendall, both of whom were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Eagles capped his tenure with a postseason appearance in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

Sheirer also spent three seasons at the University at Buffalo, where he rose from Special Teams Quality Control to Senior Special Teams Analyst and ultimately to Offensive Line Graduate Assistant. His work with UB's specialists contributed to national recognition, including All‑MAC selections, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, and multiple school record‑breaking performances. He played an integral role in film analysis, game‑day execution, practice planning, and recruiting across various territories.

"I am very grateful to Coach Egger for the opportunity to join the Hilbert College football staff. I'm excited to work with our student-athletes both on and off the field and to help grow the program. Being back in the Buffalo area makes this opportunity even more special. Go Hawks," said Sheirer.

Before entering Division I coaching, Sheirer began his career at the University of Jamestown, serving as Running Backs Graduate Assistant and later as Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach. In addition to mentoring the running backs unit, he coordinated scout defense, led extensive recruiting territories, and contributed to the program's academic and player‑development systems.

A center at Lake Forest College, Sheirer was a standout student-athlete and team captain during his collegiate playing career. He earned First Team All‑Conference honors and was voted both Team Captain and Most Valuable Player by his teammates.

"Hiring Coach Sheirer was an absolute steal for us. He has division one experience in both the Power 5 and group of five, he has run his own position group as well as been a topflight recruiting coordinator at a well-established D3 program. He is a tireless worker who is also very innovative and knowledgeable who will inject our program with a new energy," said Egger.