Wade Halvorsen is in his third season as Defensive Coordinator for the Bobcats.
In 2025, his defense produced four All-Conference selections: Zahir Washington (First Team – Defensive Line), Duke McClinton (First Team – Defensive Back), Ja-Quez Oliver (Second Team – Linebacker), and Gavin Dunkel (Honorable Mention – Defensive Line). He also coached the Heart North Freshman of the Year for the third year in a row.
In his previous seasons at Peru State, the defenses have included a national player of the week, eight all-conference performers, the Heart of America Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in consecutive years, and an All-American. In 2023, defensive lineman Devin Adams played under Halverson before moving on to the Canadian Football League. During the 2024 season, Peru State led the conference in interceptions and punt blocks.
Before joining Peru State, Halverson spent several years as a high school defensive coordinator at Aurora High School, Kearney High School, and Omaha Westside High School. His teams appeared in four state championship games and won two state titles. He was selected to coach in the 2022 Nebraska Shrine Bowl and coached two Gatorade Players of the Year and a Navy High School All-American while at Omaha Westside.
Halverson began his coaching career at Concordia University (Neb.), serving as the defensive backs coach and strength and conditioning assistant from 2013–2015. In 2013, Concordia led the NAIA in pass defense at 134.7 yards allowed per game, with three all-conference defensive backs and an AFCA All-American in the secondary.
He holds a Master’s in Education Administration from Concordia University (Neb.), a Master’s in Exercise Science from Concordia Chicago, and a Bachelor’s degree in PK–12 Health and Physical Education from Peru State College. He and his wife, Sara, have two children, Adeline and Charlotte.
