Dusty Hovorka is in his ninth season in 2025 as Lindenwood’s offensive coordinator.
During the 2024 season, Steve Hall was named the Big South-OVC Offensive Freshman of the Year and a first team All-Conference selection. The Lions averaged an Association best 173.7 yards per game on the ground. Hovorka also coached wide receiver Jeff Caldwell who was named a finalist for the 2024 Walter Payton Award, annually given to the top offensive player in FCS. Caldwell was tabbed a second-team All-American by Stats Perform and a first-team All-Conference selection
During the final home game of the season, on November 9, Lindenwood upset then No. 6 Southeast Missouri State, 24-12 in Hunter Stadium. Academically, the Lions had five student-athletes earn CSC Academic All-District honors.
During the 2023 season, Hovorka coached first team all-conference selection Jeff Caldwell at wide receiver. The Louisville, Ky. native led the Big South-OVC in touchdowns with eight, including four against Western Illinois in a thrilling 43-40 win on September 16. Caldwell earned conference weekly honors on the offensive side of the ball one time during season. Lindenwood put up 56 points in the first half against Wisconsin-Stevens Point, setting a new program record for points in a first half . Overall, the Lions finished the year with four all-conference selections.
In its first NCAA Division I season, the Lions went 7-3 record, including a 4-1 mark inside Hunter Stadium. Lindenwood picked up a thrilling 21-20 road win over Houston Baptist, as they blocked a punt with 28 seconds left, which was recovered in the end zone for a game-winning score. Lindenwood earned another road victory on October 8 in a 52-49 win over Central Arkansas, which was the start of a four-game winning streak. During that stretch, Lindenwood earned its fist win inside conference play after defeating Murray State in week six. The Lions received votes in the FCS weekly poll on three different occasions during the year. The Lions accumulated 10 all-conference selections and nine OVC weekly accolades, while Kobe McClendon was named a Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American after an impressive 2022 campaign.
In 2021, the Lions won their second-consecutive GLVC Championship with another perfect season in league play. Lindenwood closed out the season with a 9-3 record, while going 7-0 in the conference. Robert Giaimo was named the GLVC Freshman of the Year as a running back. The Lions accumulated 21 all-conference selections, including 10 on the offensive-side of the ball. Lindenwood earned its second appearance in the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs for the second time since joining the NCAA. Academically, the Lions compiled three CoSIDA Academic All-District selections, while two moved on to earn Academic All-American accolades.
In week three of the season, the Lions tied the program record for most rushing touchdowns in a game with eight. Cade Brister ran the ball in five times, which was the most by an individual in 16 years. Lindenwood went into Kirksville, Mo. to upset No. 18 Truman State with the help of three rushing scores from Robert Giaimo. Lindenwood capped of the regular season with a win over McKendree, marking 14-consecutive wins for the Lions in the conference.
In the summer of 2020, Lindenwood earned a ranking of No. 13 in the Street and Smith Preseason Poll, while receiving the No. 17 spot in the LINDY'S Sports Preseason Poll. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the 2020 season was delayed. On October 6, 2020, the GLVC Council of Presidents voted to move the season into the spring semester, which featured a shortened schedule. On March 18, 2021, the Lindenwood football program opted out of the spring season out of concern for the health and well-being of the student-athletes.
The Lions had one of their most successful seasons on offense in 2019, as Hovorka helped lead the Lions to a GLVC Championship. Lindenwood earned its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, as the Lions went 9-4 on the season with a 7-0 mark in conference play. Hovorka guided 2019 GLVC Offensive Player of the Year Cade Brister to a record-setting season. The offense set four team records for the season, while Brister broke four individual game records for the Lions. Lindenwood ranked eighth in the country with 303 first downs, while ranking ninth in the nation with 301.1 passing yards per game.
Lindenwood averaged 31.7 points per game, while its 428.9 yards per game ranked 33rd in NCAA Division II. Erik Henneman was named second-team All-American and second-team all-region (D2Football.com) after posting 699 yards with 10 touchdowns. Payton Rose set a new school record with 15 receiving touchdowns, and added 1,168 yards to earn second-team all-region (D2Football.com) recognition. Brister set seven individual season records to earn honorable-mention All-American (D2Football.com) honors, as his season was highlighted with 3,779 passing yards and 39 touchdowns.
Najee Jackson set a new school mark with 72 receptions in his final season, as the Lions held the top-four spots in the conference in receptions per game. All four individual game records were achieved when the Lions upset No. 8 UIndy. Brister completed 38 passes on 59 attempts for 541 yards, and totaled 554 total yards of offense.
Hovorka coached six first-team All-GLVC players on offense, while placing one on the second team, and another on the honorable-mention list. The success was a team effort, as three offensive lineman, two receivers, one running back, one tight end, and one quarterback made up the all-conference selections on offense. Lindenwood compiled five GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honors, as Brister tallied three weekly awards.
Lindenwood compiled 602 yards of offense against UIndy as part of the record-setting day. The Lions threw for 300 yards or more in six different games, including five-straight. The ground game averaged 4.2 yards per carry, as the offense broke off 251 rushing yards against Southwest Baptist.
In his second season, Hovorka helped the offensive production increase from a season ago, scoring 28.8 points per game. The Lindenwood offense ranked in the top-25 in the nation with an 85.7 percent success rate in the red zone. The Lions scored 41 points or more in three-straight games, including a 51-point effort against Missouri Southern. Junior tight end Erik Henneman broke the school record for touchdown receptions in a game with four.
Lindenwood earned its first win over Emporia State in a 48-41 victory in the fourth game of the season. The Lions put up 24 points against No. 10 Pittsburg State and 17 points against No. 11 Northwest Missouri, both above their season average in points allowed. Nash Sutherlin broke free against Pittsburg State for an 87-yard touchdown run, one yard shy of the school record.
Lindenwood capped off the year with a wild 21-point fourth-quarter comeback victory over Missouri Western. The Lions scored with less than two minutes left in the game on an 11-play 99-yard drive. Lindenwood recovered the ensuing onside kick, and drove down to score the game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds left in the game.
Hovorka played a key part in the success of freshman quarterback Cade Brister who ranks near the top of multiple school records after just one season. Brister was responsible for 27 touchdowns, ranking right behind two of the greatest quarterbacks in program history (Philip Staback and Ben Kisner). Hovorka helped aid the production of first-team All-American tight end Erik Henneman. Along with Henneman, the Lindenwood offense tallied four other All-MIAA honorees, including second-team offensive lineman Lucas Beddow. Earning honorable-mention recognition were Brister, Sutherlin, and Cameron Sanders.
In his first season at Lindenwood, Hovorka had a new quarterback under center, and a new-look offensive line. Despite the changes, the Lions still improved their offense by nearly half a point a game, and gained 26.1 more yards per game. Lindenwood jumped one spot in the MIAA in scoring offense, and four spots in total offense. The program had its highest scoring offense and total offense since its 2012 campaign.
Hovorka helped three offensive players earned third-team All-MIAA honors in running back Calen Campbell, wide receiver Deantrell Prince, and offensive lineman Akil Williams. Three other offensive players also earned honorable mention accolades.
Hovorka came to Lindenwood from the University of Sioux Falls, where he served from 2010-2016. From 2014-2016, he was Sioux Falls’ offensive coordinator.
While he was offensive coordinator, Hovorka’s offense averaged 40.3 points and 489.5 total yards of offense a game. The Cougars averaged 239.3 yards on the ground and 250.1 yards through the air. In those three seasons, Sioux Falls went 32-5, appeared in the postseason all three years, won the 2016 NSIC Championship, and won its first NCAA Tournament game in 2016.
In 2016, Sioux Falls ranked third in the nation by rushing for over 300 yards a game. The Cougars were 17th in scoring offense and seventh in total offense. Three players earned first-team All-NSIC honors, including running back Max Mickey, a Harlon Hill candidate. Six other offense players earned second-team all-conference awards, and two were honorable mention picks.
In 2015, Hovorka helped Sioux Falls to being ranked 16th in scoring offense and 19th in total offense. The offensive line led the nation that year by allowing just five sacks. Six players earned all-conference honors, including offensive lineman Antonio Green who was a first-team All-American.
In his first year as an offensive coordinator, Hovorka led Sioux Falls to being ranked seventh nationally in scoring offense and 17th in total offense. The Cougars scored 58 offensive touchdowns, 11 more than the previous season. Hovorka coached the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Luke Papilion, as well as four other all-conference performers.
From 2010-2013, Hovorka was in charge of the team’s wide receivers. In his first season, he coached Jon Ryan to NAIA Player of the Year honors after Ryan had 24 touchdowns, 81 receptions, and 1,430 receiving yards. After Sioux Falls joined the NSIC, two players earned all-conference honors in that span.
Hovorka was one of the top players in Sioux Falls history from 2003-2006. He set career records with 291 receptions, 4,801 receiving yards, and 55 receiving touchdowns. Hovorka was a three-time All-American, and the only wide receiver in school history to record 1,000 or more yards in all four of his seasons. He helped Sioux Falls win the 2006 NAIA National Championship.
After his collegiate career, Hovorka played six seasons for the Sioux Falls Storm in the IFL.
Hovorka is married to Kari Keating.
