Brady Bartz enters his second season on the BSU Beavers' coaching staff in 2025 after spending time as a player from 2018-2023.
The Beavers made an impact on the NCAA during the 2024 season, making their first ever NCAA Division II Tournament Quarterfinal appearance. BSU's appearance in the tournament garnered the honor of being the only team in the NCAA to appear in the second round for each of the past four years. The Beavers went into the postseason off the high of defeating No. 15/10 Augustana University in the final week of NSIC play. They then headed to San Angelo, Tex. for a rematch against Angelo State, the team that ended their playoff push in 2022. After a strong 24-14 victory, the team traveled to Gunnison, Colo. the following weekend to take on No. 10 Western Colorado. After getting down 19-14 in the third quarter, the Beavers needed something magical to pull out a win in the -2°, Rocky Mountain environment. This magic sparked late in the fourth quarter when Gabe Ward scooped a fumble on defense and ran it into the endzone for a 79-yard fumble-recovery touchdown, making it 20-19 in favor of BSU. The Beavers' streak came to a halt in their first quarterfinals appearance, falling 27-23 to NSIC rival RV MSU Mankato, falling four yards and eight quarters short of the National Champion title.
The Beavers excelled in the classroom as well as on the field in 2024, marking two College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans in Marco Cavallaro and Brice Peters along with eight CSC Academic All-District Selections. Ridge Flatness and Bill Ketola were named NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award winners and 26 were named to the NSIC All-Academic team. Center Jake Gannon brought in his fair share of post-season accolades being named the Rimington Trophy Winner for Division II, an award given to the top center in each NCAA division. He was also named an AP All-American First Teamer, D2CCA All-American, All-Super Region 4, D2Football.com All-American, Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-American, a finalist for the Gene Upshaw award and the Bobby Belly College Football Impact Player of the Year. Marcus Hansen joined Gannon as an AP All-American, All-Super Region 4, D2Football.com All-American honorable mention, Don Hansens's Football Gazette All-American honorable mention and Harlon Hill nominee. Brice Peters was named the team's AFCA All-American and Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-American Second Team, while he and Stephen Hoffman were added to the D2Football.com All-American honorable mentions list. As a team, the Beavers had six named All-NSIC First Team selections with eight on the second team.
As a unit, the Beaver offense created 2,536 yards through the air and 2,515 on the ground for 5,051 in total offense. Beaver wide receivers combined for 24 receiving touchdowns with an average of 181.14 yards per game, 6.66 per attempt. With the help of Bartz' offensive line, rushers marked 2,515 net yards on 232 attempts with 23 touchdowns scored. The Beavers' ground game averaged 179.6 yards per game and 4.5 per attempt. The offense finished the season ranked 47th in the NCAA for 3rd down conversion percentage (.419), 22nd in 4th down conversion percentage (.600), 48th in completion percentage (.601), 14th in first downs (266, second in NSIC), 27th in rushing offense (180.1), 29th in sacks allowed (1.21), 17th in TFLs allowed (4.29), 25th in time of possession (31:56), 59th in total offense (361.9) and 35th in winning percentage (.714). Quarterback Sam McGath ranked 18th in the NCAA for passing touchdowns (24) and 14th in points responsible for (192). Brice Peters finished his senior season ranked 6th in receiving touchdowns (13), 7th in receiving yards (1,144) and 23rd in receiving yards per game (81.7). The duo also went 56 and 55 for total offense and total points scored, respectively, with Peters taking 33rd for total touchdowns. On the ground, Jayden Washington and Jarrett Gronski both ranked 200th in the NCAA for rushing touchdowns at four each. Washington finished the season in 58th for rushing yards with 793. Sam McGath also picked up enough touchdowns to find his name amongst rushers, taking 60th with eight rushing touchdowns.
Bartz previously played for the Beavers from 2018-2023 as a member of the Tight Ends/Fullbacks room. Redshirting his freshman season, Bartz appeared in three games for the Beavers in 2019. He began to see more time on the field in 2021 where he appeared in nine games and was a part of the first NCAA playoff berth in program history, with the team making it to the second round.
In 2022 Bartz saw time in all 12 games for the Beavers. During this season, he blocked for the nation's fourth-ranked passing offense and NSIC's seventh-ranked rushing offense. Additionally, Bartz was a member of an offense that led the NSIC and ranked fifth in NCAA DII in sacks allowed. As a senior the following season, he appeared in eight games as the team made its third-straight NCAA playoff tournament run, making it to the second round.
Bartz graduated from Bemidji State in December of 2023. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science.
