APPLETON, Wis. — Acclaimed coach Mark Speckman has joined the Lawrence University football staff and will serve as offensive coordinator, Vikings head coach Rob McCarthy announced.

Speckman joins the staff at Lawrence after serving for the last two seasons as the running backs and tight ends coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

"Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our football program," McCarthy said. "With him as our offensive coordinator, our offense will have an identity."

Speckman has a long and successful history as a head coach and is one of the experts in the game on the "Fly" offense.

"I look forward to becoming a member of the Lawrence University football family," Speckman said. "With the new leadership of Rob McCarthy and the renovation of the Banta Bowl, this is an exciting time for Viking football. I also look forward to working with the outstanding student-athletes that attend Lawrence University."

Speckman was a head coach at the collegiate level for 15 seasons, including 14 at Willamette University. Speckman coached Willamette 1998-2011 and compiled a record of 83-59. The Bearcats won the Northwest Conference in 1999 and 2008 and made appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs in 1999, 2004 and 2008.

Speckman's 2008 team finished with an 11-1 record and was ranked as high as fourth nationally. Speckman was a finalist for the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year and was named American Football Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year in 2008.

Speckman, who has been named a conference Coach of the Year 10 times, also served as the head coach at Menlo College in 2012 before going to the Canadian Football League.

Speckman served as a prep head coach at four different high schools from 1981-94 before joining the staff at Willamette as the offensive coordinator in 1995.

"Coach Speckman has had success building a successful Division III football program, and he will play an important role as we rebuild the program here at Lawrence," McCarthy said. "Mark is a passionate coach and motivator. This, coupled, with his proven ability to recruit high-caliber student-athletes from throughout the country, will make him a valuable asset to both the football program and the university."

Speckman has served as a consultant to high-powered college football programs like Wisconsin, Oregon and Stanford and also has worked with the staffs of the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

"Securing a coach with as much experience as Mark Speckman bodes well for the future of Viking football," Director of Athletics Mike Szkodzinski said. "We are very excited to watch how his influence will help to move our program and department forward in a positive direction."

A sought-after football theory and motivational speaker, Speckman drew media attention as a player decades ago. Born without hands, Speckman played linebacker at Menlo and later at Azusa Pacific University and was a NAIA All-American. He earned a bachelor's degree from Azusa Pacific in 1977 and picked up a master's degree in health and human services from Columbia Pacific University in 1994.

Speckman, along with W. Jason Niedermeyer, authored the book, Figure It Out: How I Learned To Live In A Digital World Without Digits.

Lawrence opens its football season at the renovated Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl on Sept. 5 against Rockford University.