Dordt head football coach Joel Penner isn't much for talking about personal accolades. When his name appeared as the GPAC Coach of the Year this fall, his focus immediately shifted somewhere else—toward the roster of players who helped elevate the program to one of its most complete seasons in his tenure.

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"It's always about the team," Penner said. "The players create the story of a season. Coaches just help guide it."

The story of Dordt's 2025 campaign is one built on resilience with a group that handled high expectations and tight-margin football. The Defenders turned in one of their strongest regular seasons in program history, finished with a program first GPAC title and a host of all-conference honors.

From the first practice in August, Penner sensed the mix of veteran leadership and rising talent could turn this year into something special.
"We had older guys who knew what it meant to prepare, and younger guys who came in hungry," he said. "That combination is powerful."

Dordt's efficiency on offense and consistency on defense put the Defenders in multiple tight games while building a 9-1 record.

The conference took notice: 15 Defenders earned All-GPAC recognition, including seven first-team selections, one of the deepest and most balanced groups Dordt has fielded.

"You want your players to be rewarded for the hours they've put in," Penner said. "It reflects not just individual performance but the culture they've invested in."

A loss to perennial power Morningside in overtime on the last day of the regular season turned the Defenders focus to the post season, but not before absorbing the magnitude of that afternoon.

"That game was huge—for our players, our fans, and everyone who's been part of building this program," he said.

The regular season as a whole showed the depth of the program.

"It showed our guys the outcome of steady development, not shortcuts," Penner said. "That's a special thing to see as a coach."

When the GPAC honored Penner with Coach of the Year, he accepted the award the only way he knows how—with gratitude, humility, and a focus on the team around him.

"Any recognition I receive is really a reflection of this staff and these players," he said. "Our assistants work incredibly hard. Our players buy into the mission. That's why we keep growing."

Penner's tenure has been characterized by long-term, intentional development of the roster, the culture, and the identity of Dordt football.

With the postseason set to begin the Defenders turn their attention away from conference rivals. The Defenders are playing polished, confident, and connected—traits that matter most in November.

"Every team in the field is good," Penner said. "You don't get this far without having something special. Our task is to play our brand of football—physical, disciplined, and together."

Preparation is already underway: film sessions, red-zone adjustments, special teams fine-tuning, and a week grounded in the same habits that carried Dordt through the regular season.

"Our guys understand the moment," Penner said. "But they also understand that pressure doesn't build character—it reveals it. I like what this group reveals."

As Dordt steps into the postseason, Penner sees a team that has matured, unified, and proven itself capable of playing with anyone in the country. But more than anything, he sees a group that represents the core values the program has tried to cultivate for nearly a decade.

"This season has been meaningful because of who these guys are," he said. "No matter how far we go in the playoffs, the way they've competed and represented Dordt is something I'm incredibly proud of."

And with meaningful football still ahead, the Defenders are far from finished.