Bud Etzold wasn't pounding the pavement looking for a head football coaching job.

It was going to take something special for him to give up his position as quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Mary.

That special job was at Jamestown College. Etzold was named the head coach on Tuesday. His duties begin immediately.

Etzold will replace Tom Dosch, who has already joined the coaching staff at Southern Illinois. Dosch followed former UND coach Dale Lennon to Carbondale.

It's Etzold's second tour of duty at Jamestown. He was the head coach from 1995-99. From 1999-2000, he served as the school's athletic director.

In many ways, Etzold is returning home.

"I've been around the block for 30 years," Etzold said. "You're looking for the right opportunity. I was not in an urgent hurry to leave Bismarck. In the same token, when that particular head job opened up, there was a fondness in my heart. It has a great feel to it."

In Etzold's first stop at Jamestown, he coached the Jimmies to conference titles in 1997 and 1998.

His career coaching record boasts 24 winning seasons out of 28. He has nearly 30 years of experience in post secondary education along with collegiate experience in institutional advancement, residential life, admissions and athletics.

"I know the program had a great former coach (Dosch) who left the program in good hands," Etzold said. "It's a great opportunity and a great fit for me."

Etzold served as U-Mary's offensive coordinator for five years and oversaw the quarterbacks last season.

U-Mary coach Myron Schulz said he has a couple options in finding a replacement for Etzold.

"There's a couple on-staff scenarios that could play out," Schulz said. "You have to go through the administration, the hiring process and the proper channels. We have several solutions in mind."

Schulz said Etzold brought several tangibles to the table in helping make U-Mary a successful program.

"Bud's greatest strength is building personal relationships," Schulz said. "For me, he was always a sounding board for common sense. He was here at a good time, when I was younger. Now, I've been in a lot of those situations myself."

Etzold named three priorities that he must tackle immediately when he sets up shop in Jamestown meeting with the staff, touching base with the players and contacting recruits.

"The staff has done a great job of keeping the house in order," Etzold said. "I respect the job they've done and I will sit down with them individually. We will work out the details and see where they are at, and treat them with respect."

Etzold said the young football staff at U-Mary has helped make him a better coach.

"They do things on the cutting edge, and they do things the right way,"Etzold said. "I can't think of a better staff I've been associated with. They will do some great things, and I hope I lent something to the mix.

"Iwill always be indebted to Sister Thomas (Welder) and the University of Mary …," Etzold added. "Ihope they got something out of it, because I did."