KANSAS – The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) announced on social media and on their website that they have switched the names of the divisions set for the 2025 football season.
The decision came following the KCAC’s Governing Council Executive Committee meeting, which occurred Thurs., July 24. The divisions set will remain the same, but teams that were set in the Dr. Ted Kessinger Division will now be in the Franklin “Gene” Bissell Division and vice versa.
The KCAC made this statement on Facebook, citing feedback from the athletic departments and fans:
“We have heard the feedback from athletic departments and from fans, and the KCAC Governing Council Executive Committee (GCEC) has moved to swap the football division names announced previously for the 2025 season. The GCEC would like to do its best to honor these legendary coaches, their families, and the institutions they had so much success at in the KCAC.”
The 12-team conference will now operate with the following divisions, which were previously set to represent the other division:
- Dr. Ted Kessinger Division
- Avila University
- Bethany College
- Bethel College
- Evangel University
- Ottawa University
- Tabor College
- Franklin “Gene” Bissell Division
- Friends University
- Kansas Wesleyan University
- McPherson College
- Southwestern College
- Sterling College
- University of Saint Mary
Dr. Ted Kessinger is a former head coach at Bethany College, where he served as the coach of the Swedes from 1976-2003. He earned a record of 219-57-1, a winning percentage of 79.2%. He was inducted to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Franklin “Gene” Bissell was the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan University from 1952-1961 and from 1963-1978. The Akron, Ohio native had an overall record of 115-119-7, winning four KCAC championships. He was inducted to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1991 and posthumously in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. Bissell died in Salina in 2016 at the age of 89.
The 2025 KCAC Football season begins Sat., Aug. 30. Ad Astra Radio will bring coverage of all 11 games to the following schools and the following stations:
- Bethany College – 95.5 KLBG
- McPherson College – 98.9/1540 KMCP
- Sterling College – 100.3 KNZS
