DALLAS, TX - Longtime Bethany College coach Dr. Ted Kessinger has been chosen for induction into The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.

The announcement was made Tuesday in Dallas by NFF chairman Archie Manning.

Dr. Kessinger will be inducted along with former Wichita State coach Willie Jeffries and four former players into the Divisional Hall of Fame, which honors coaches and players from NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The players are Emerson Boozer (Maryland-Eastern Shore), Troy Brown (Marshall), Brian Kelley (California Lutheran) and Milt Morin (Massachusetts).

The group will be enshrined during ceremonies July 16-17 in South Bend, Ind.

Dr. Kessinger wasn't aware of the honor when contacted Tuesday afternoon.

"That would be great to have someone from our (Kansas) conference," he said. "I'm kind of at a loss for words -- which would be a first.

"I surely thank the Lord for surrounding me with a wife and family who have been very supportive, and all the assistant coaches and players I worked with. Because of my family, the coaches and players ... to represent them is the honor right there.

"I'm not sure what to do but sit back and enjoy it."

Dr. Kessinger compiled a 219-57-1 record (.792 percent) during 28 seasons with Swedes and never had a losing record. His teams won or shared 16 KCAC titles, and he was named conference coach of the year 11 times. Bethany was ranked in the final NAIA top 25 poll 20 times in 28 years, and his teams made 13 NAIA playoff appearances.

Nearly 400 of his players earned all-KCAC honors, 43 were named NAIA All-Americans, and 49 were NAIA Scholar Athletes.

When he retired in 2003, Dr. Kessinger was the winningest active coach in victories and winning percentage in the NAIA. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Since retiring Dr. Kessinger has served as a lay minister and is a special consultant to Bethany president Edward Leonard. He's a lifetime member of the American Football Coaches Association and closely follows Bethany football. He also attends Ottawa University's football games, where his son Kent is head coach.

"I'm not a very good fan inside," Dr. Kessinger said with a laugh, "I get really frustrated. Kent and Jamie (Bethany coach Cruce) keep me involved as do Gary Sandbo and Dustin Miller (former assistants). I think they feel sorry us guys who are getting old and senile."

Dr. Kessinger said he relishes the memories of his years as a head coach.

"Not only the relationships with our coaches and players, but the relations we had with the coaches in our conference, which were very good. Those are the things I miss the most," he said.