COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University head football coach Gary Fasching '81 announced the promotions of assistant coaches Damien Dumonceaux '05 and James Herberg on Monday, Feb. 2. 

Dumonceaux was promoted to assistant head coach, while Herberg is the Johnnies' new defensive coordinator. Dumonceaux will also continue to coach the defensive line, where he has coached 13 All-Americans, and will continue to serve as SJU football's recruiting coordinator.

Dumonceaux completed his 20th season on the defensive coaching staff in 2025 and has served as the program's recruiting coordinator since 2013. The Johnnies have compiled a 177-42 (.808) overall record and a 128-25 (.837) mark in the MIAC with nine conference championships and 14 NCAA appearances during his tenure on staff.

"I am really blessed for the outstanding opportunity to expand my role, working side by side with Gary, to take the Saint John's football program to the next level," Dumonceaux said. "Gary has been an outstanding coach and mentor to me, and I am honored to move into the assistant head coach role. 
"College Football as a whole is changing at an incredible pace. I am excited to work in an expanded role helping Saint John's football adapt to this new and ever-changing landscape. Working in this expanded role, while being able to continue to coach and recruit incredible student-athletes, with an unbelievable staff that is dedicated to the success of our program and our players, is almost too good to be true."

A member of the Johnnies' 2003 national championship team and a three-year starter (2003-05) at nose tackle, Dumonceaux was a 2005 All-American and received a pair of national awards, Football Gazette's Defensive Lineman of the Year and D3football.com's Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named the 2005 MIAC Mike Stam Award recipient as the conference's top lineman.

As a track and field student-athlete, Dumonceaux was a five-time All-MIAC (top three) honoree in the shot put, including the MIAC indoor champion in 2005 and the outdoor runner-up in 2004. He coached the Johnnies' throwers for 10 seasons from 2006-15.

"Damien is an outstanding football coach and recruiting coordinator," Fasching said. "This role will allow him to take on some administrative role within the program. Damien makes a strong connection with our players and their families and, much like James, is very detailed and organized.

"Damien has built strong relationships with every department on campus, which is vital as we continue to evolve with the changing landscape of college football. He will help greatly as we navigate through these changes and tend to a roster of 190 players. I look forward to working side-by-side with Damien in this new role."

A defensive backs coach for the Johnnies this past fall, Herberg helped coach all four of SJU's starting defensive backs to All-MIAC honors. Sophomore cornerback Westin Hoyt (Forest Lake, Minn.) was also named to D3football.com's All-Region 6 team. 

"First off, I want to thank God for blessing me and my family with this incredible opportunity to step into the defensive coordinator role," Herberg said. "I'm excited to continue my work developing our players, building a defense that plays fast and physical, and contributing to the continued success of Johnnie Football. I appreciate the trust Coach Fasching has shown in me, and I'm excited to get to work with our incredible staff and players to build something special in Collegeville."

Herberg came to SJU in May 2025 after leading Rocori High School to eight state tournament appearances - four as a defensive assistant (2009-17) and four more as head coach (2018-24), including Minnesota Class AAAA state championships in 2011 and 2019, and a state runner-up finish in 2023. In all, the Spartans boasted a 50-23 record with Herberg as head coach. 

"James was an integral part of our defensive staff this past season," Fasching said. "He is very detailed and organized, and presented a plan that fit what I was looking for in a defensive coordinator. I was impressed with his vision of how our defense can improve even more this coming season.

"In his one season on staff, James earned the respect of our players and coaches with his passion and energy for coaching, his insights into the workings of our defense and the ability to teach it to our players. He has a great rapport with our players and is able to motivate them to perform at their highest level. James is more than ready to take on this important role within our program."

Herberg replaces Brandon Novak '01, who left SJU in December to become the head football coach at Loras College (Iowa) following 26 seasons as an assistant coach in Collegeville.

A native of Cold Spring and a 2009 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, Herberg joined Rocori's football staff in 2009 and was the defensive coordinator in 2011 when the Spartans won their first Minnesota Class AAAA state championship.

The Johnnies ended the 2025 season fifth in NCAA Division III in scoring defense (12.1 ppg.); seventh in total defense (241.1 ypg.); 10th in red-zone defense (61.5 percent, 16-for-26); and 13th in defensive touchdowns (4). SJU led the MIAC in total defense (212.0 ypg.) for the fourth time in the last six seasons, and in passing defense (145.3 ypg.) in conference games, as well as second in scoring defense (9.8 ppg.) and run defense (66.7 ypg.).

SJU (10-2, 8-1 MIAC) recorded its 27th 10-win season, made its 34th postseason appearance (30th in Division III) this fall and ended the season ranked as high as No. 8 in the final AFCA poll.