A defensive backs coach for the Johnnies in 2025, Saint John's University head football coach Gary Fasching '81 announced the promotion of Herberg to defensive coordinator on Feb. 2, 2026.
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.
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.).
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.
Herberg replaced 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.
