LIBERTY, Mo. – William Jewell College is pleased to announce the hiring of Jason Ambroson as head football coach, effective December 23. He becomes the 32
nd head coach in program history and is making a return to The Hill after previously serving as a coordinator for the Cardinals from 1997-2000.
"Jason is a seasoned program builder who creates a positive culture that translates into winning. He knows Jewell, respects our past and is optimistic about our future. I feel fortunate that he will be leading Cardinal football," said College President Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls.
A 2023 Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, Ambroson has a history of program building, having been the author of multiple turnarounds at numerous levels of football. For the last nine years, he has served as the head coach at nearby Smithville High School where he has gone 90-19 winning a state title in 2021 and accumulating three other state semifinal appearances, six conference championships, and four district titles. Prior to Smithville, he spent 14 years at Moberly High School (Mo.) inheriting a program that averaged less than two wins per season for the previous 50-plus years and leading a massive turnaround that resulted in five district championships, three conference titles, five state quarterfinal appearances and two undefeated regular seasons.
Ambroson is no stranger to college football, having spent time at the NAIA, NCAA-II and NCAA-I levels. While at Jewell he coached running backs and served as the offensive, special teams, and recruiting coordinator, where he mentored two of the top running backs in program history in Eric Levings and Deeikee Williams who combined for more than 5,900 rushing yards from 1997-2000. In total with the Cardinals, he coached players who combined for 29 All-Conference honors, one Conference Offensive Player of the Year and three All-America selections.
"I am extremely confident we found the most accomplished and respected program builder available to take over at a crucial time for Jewell football," added Interim Director of Athletics Chris McCabe. "Thanks to President MacLeod Walls, we are in position to put Jewell football on solid footing now and into the future, with Jason Ambroson leading the way. Student-athletes will be energized by the hope, enthusiasm, and vision he has, and recruits will be attracted to the style and personality of the program and our alumni will have pride restored in the program. I'm confident Jewell football is positioned to rise in the days, months and years to come."
Ambroson got his start as an offensive graduate assistant at Iowa State, coaching quarterbacks and fullbacks followed by a stint as a defensive graduate assistant and linebackers/long snappers coach at the University of Kansas. He also spent two years as the passing game coordinator at the University of Central Missouri and offensive coordinator at Morningside College (Iowa).
He has earned numerous honors throughout his career, including being named the 2022 Missouri State High School Activities Association Coach of the Year and Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 4 Coach of the Year. Additionally, he was named the Dave Bassore Man of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association.
In addition to his work on the field, he has spent more than two decades coaching athletes of numerous sports, including football, in the weight room, resulting in more than six other teams besides his own advancing to their respective state final four. Additionally, he helped spearhead the development of a $9 million, 8,800 square- foot performance facility at Smithville High School, which opened in 2021, along with a $2.5 million stadium and locker room renovation at Moberly in 2008.
"It is an honor and a privilege to represent the rich history of William Jewell College and its football program. I fell in love with this place and its people over twenty plus years ago and putting together and developing a plan to build a first class football program that can rival the stellar academic reputation of this institution is beyond exciting," said Ambroson. "It all starts with building relationships, having trust in actions, and above all, a family first approach. I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know all of the individuals, past and present, involved in this campus and establishing a working relationship with them to add phenomenal pieces for the future. Most importantly developing a team of students, faculty, staff, and alumni whose singular purpose is to deliver a once in a lifetime experience for all that encompass The Hill going forward."
As a player, he was a letterwinner at quarterback and special teams at Iowa State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1993, followed by a master's in education at Kansas.
A native of Leland, Iowa, he is married to wife Andrea and the father of daughter Rylee and son Ayden.
If you would like to support Coach Ambroson and the new era of Cardinal football you can do so
here.
WHAT ALUMNI ARE SAYING ABOUT JASON AMBROSON
"Get fired up! We just got a great football coach and he's about to take us to new heights. I'm excited about the vision that Jason has for this program and what he's about to accomplish. Go Cards!"
- Dan Lanning, '08
Head Football Coach, University of Oregon
"Coach Ambroson is a great hire for Jewell. He's a proven winner and a program builder. A Missouri High School Hall of Fame Coach, who understands the landscape of the Kansas City recruiting area, and the respect he has from area coaches will be huge for recruiting!"
- Logan Minnick, '08
Head Football Coach, Kearney High School (2023 Missouri Class 4 State Champion)
"Coach Ambroson will bring a passion and energy to The Hill that will make the entire Jewell community better. He has established a strong reputation in his previous roles for building a culture of teamwork and winning, both on and off the field. His established roots at William Jewell, combined with his relationships in the coaching world, puts him in a position to help rejuvenate the William Jewell football program. Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls and her administration understand the importance of a successful football program on The Hill, and the hiring of Coach Ambroson is a great step in that investment. It is an exciting time to be involved with William Jewell Football."
"I couldn't be more excited about the direction of the Cardinal football program. Coach Ambroson is well respected as a coach and in the Kansas City area and I look forward to him taking the Jewell program to new heights!"
- John Egorugwu, '08
Linebackers Coach, New York Giants
"Some of my best memories as a Cardinal include Coach Ambroson. His commitment to his craft is evident demonstrated by years of success and recognition, but it's his enthusiasm and care for the people he works with and the athletes he coaches that makes him the right leader for our program. Coach Ambroson brings unmatched energy, and I couldn't be more excited for this hire."
- Eric Blair, '01
Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Student Life, William Jewell College
"I think this one of the more important hires Jewell has had in a long time. Coach Ambroson's track record as a football coach and leader of young men within the Kansas City coaching ranks, speaks for itself. I want to specifically thank Interim Athletics Director Chris McCabe and President MacLeod Walls on their efforts to provide the resources for Coach Ambroson's staff to win in the GLVC long term. Our late/great Coach, Dave Bassore, used to say, 'the football program is the 'front porch' of the College', and we need to represent ourselves in that manner. With the hiring of a Missouri Hall of Famer, it's clear Jewell is doing the work to strengthen that front porch."
