Staff

Heidi Ripplinger

General Manager

Phone7012047470 ext.653

Rod Miller

Head Coach

RodMiller begins his second season as the Head Coach of the Bismarck Bucks. Prior to the Bucks, Miller has served as a Head Coach and Assistant Coach with various teams. His 2016 China Arena Football League (CAFL) team the Qingdao Clipper advanced to the Championship game where it lost to eventual League Champion Beijing Lions on a heartbreaking FG on the last play of the game. Coach Miller was also the Defensive Coordinator for the Wichita Force who won the 2016 CIF League Championship. Coach Miller is a long-time football coaching veteran with over 21 years of coaching experience in College, Arena and Indoor Football with coaching stops in such cities as Philadelphia, PA ; Cleveland, OH; Grand Rapids, MI; Kansas City, MO ; Green Bay, WI ; Laredo, TX; Omaha ,NE ; Trenton, NJ; Greenville, SC; Tyler, TX ; Frankfort, KY ; and Bloomington, IL. Coach Miller has coached in the AFL, AF2, IFL, Lone-Star, UIF, and CIF indoor football leagues and has coached in 3 Championship games in 3 different leagues in the last 6 years. Coach Miller believes that as a football coach it is our job as coaches to cater to the "whole person" not just the player. “We have the opportunity to not only help our men become better football players but also become better fathers and better men in general! I always tell my players it's more than just football to me.” Coach Miller is the proud father of 2 daughters.

Favorite song: I have so many because my music selections are sooo various!! but I’ll say “I like the way you move“ by Outkast

Pixar Character: Honestly, I do not get into that stuff.

Favorite foods: I have 2: pizza and lobster.

If you could have a conversation with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? I would talk to Vince Lombardi because he was one of the best football coaches or Martin Luther King because he was a visionary.

Bucks 2020 season: I look forward to seeing the results of the hard work of transforming the Bucks into a quality ball club in year 2 of a 3-year vision!

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Dora Cantu

Marketing, In-Game Entertainment, & Public Relations Director

Phone7015950771 ext. 651

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Jake Armstrong

Director of Game Day Operations & Sales

Phone7015950771

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Carleen Soule

Sponsor and Partner Services Director

Phone7015950771 ext. 659

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I am a North Dakota native, I studied Biology in college and spent 7+ years with Ducks Unlimited and philanthropic development. Most recently, I grew sales for and represented a pest control product manufacturer. I come to the Bucks with Event management and brand representation experience. I have an aspiring Wide Receiver in Middle School.

Favorite song: I can’t pick one. I love to sing and my genres include classic rock from the ’70s, pop hits from the ’80s, Hard Rock and Metal. Throw in some Christian songs that I sing in church, along with a TINY (minuscule) spattering of Country (I grew up in ND; it was unavoidable), and that’ll get a good START to my list of faves.

Favorite Color: Chartreuse, although my wardrobe would suggest Black is my favorite color

If you were a Pixar Character who would you be and why?: I had to Google Pixar Characters. Now I feel old.

Favorite Food: Jambalaya, topped with freshly sliced avocado

Favorite Animal: Dogs. Hedgehogs are pretty cute, though.

What are you looking forward to in the 2020 Season? To find bold, fun and unique ways to connect the team with the community.

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Erika Morrell

Office Assistant

Phone7015950771

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I grew up in Mandan, ND where I was active in sports such as dance and gymnastics, then was part of drill team dance throughout middle school and high school. I came out of my month-long retirement to be a Bucks Dancer for the 2018 Season. Straight out of school, I moved on to coach the middle school and high school JV teams alongside my sister. Whether it is to watch or play, sports have played a major role in my life from the beginning. Football, basketball, hockey, and baseball are some of my favorites to watch, and I am grateful to be part of this football family, yet again, here with the Bismarck Bucks for Season 4!

Favorite song: “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood, or “Hillbillies” by Hot Apple Pie

Favorite Color: Blue

If you were a Pixar Character who would you be and why? If I was a Pixar character, I would be Doug from “Up” because I am very happy-go-lucky like he is, but can “squirrel” on a dime. If I didn’t want to be a dog, I would be Joy from “Inside Out” because I am a very joyful person to be around, and I always want to make sure everyone around me is having fun as well. I have been told my gift is to make people smile, so doing so makes me similar to Joy and her outlook on life.

Favorite Food: Pepperoni Pizza Rolls (for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner)

Favorite Animal: Horse or dog

If you could have a conversation with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? If I could have a conversation with anyone dead or alive, it would be John F. Kennedy. I would choose him because he seems so personable and real, and I feel I could relate to him in a way of being small-town Ag kids, and how he built himself up to the great leader he was.

What do you look forward to in the 2020 Season? I look forward to the continued growth towards this organization. We have a good team of staff in the office, and we work hard to be where we are and where we want to be.

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Char Hopfauf

Medical Liaison

Phone7015950771ext. 655

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