Randy Hedberg

Randy R. Hedberg (born December 27, 1954) is an American football coach and a former player. He is the associate head coach and quarterbacks coach at North Dakota State University. Hedberg played as a quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) in 1977. He was the head football coach at Minot State University, his alma mater, from 1982 to 1989 and St. Cloud State University from 1999 to 2007, compiling a career college football record of 92–74–2.

Early life, playing career, and education
Born and raised in Parshall, North Dakota, southwest of Minot, Hedberg graduated from Parshall High School in 1973. He played college football at Minot State College, an NAIA school, from 1973 to 1976. He was a four-year letter winner in football, basketball, and baseball for the Beavers, and earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1977. He earned a master's degree from the University of North Dakota in 1987.

Hedberg was selected in the eighth round (196th overall) in the 1977 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay, the eleventh quarterback selected. He saw significant playing time in his rookie season in 1977, appearing in seven games and starting four, including the season opener. As of 2023, no rookie quarterback drafted lower than Hedberg has been a team's starting quarterback in Week 1. He did not play well; his final stat line for the season was 25 completions on 90 attempts (a 27.8% completion percentage), with zero touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

On injured reserve the following year, he was traded in February 1979 to Oakland; briefly with Raiders and Green Bay, he did not see any regular season playing time.

Hedberg was selected as #31 in Sports Illustrated's "50 Greatest Sports Figures in North Dakota."

Coaching career
Following his playing career, he was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Minot State, from 1979 to 1981, and its head coach from 1982 to 1989, compiling a 45–23–2 (.657) record in eight seasons. He then became the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Central Missouri State University (1990–1995) and at the University of North Dakota (1996–1998) in Grand Forks. He returned to the head coaching ranks in 1999 at St. Cloud State University, a Division II program in central Minnesota, compiling a 47–51 (.480) record in nine seasons. His overall record as a head coach stands at 92–74–2 (.554) in 17 seasons.

Hedberg was the quarterbacks coach at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He was hired in February 2008. After the 2013 season he signed on to be the quarterbacks coach at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Here, Hedberg would coach Carson Wentz, the eventual 2nd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Randy also coached Easton Stick a 2019 5th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Chargers. He was the quarterback coach of Trey Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Honors and family
Hedberg was inducted into Minot State's hall of fame in 1985.

Hedberg was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Assistant coach of the year award in 2021.

He has four children, Jennifer, Kate, Christopher and Maddie.