Travis Destache joined the Blue Devil coaching staff in 2006 and has been the team’s defensive coordinator since the 2011 season. He was named 2017 WFCA Assistant Coach of the Year.
 

UW-STOUT (2006-Present)

Destache has worked with 41 All-WIAC selections and six all-region honorees while at Stout. Three of his defensive backs, Kendall Wade, Joe Seep, and Jed Schlegel earned All-American awards.

2011-Present (Defensive Coordinator): The Blue Devils went 6-5, 4-3  in 2024, for their first winning season since 2017 and qualified for postseason play for the first time since 2000. Stout played in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl falling 35-32 to Wheaton. Stout played seven games against ranked opponents, defeating #16 Dickinson State, #8 Whitewater and #13 Oshkosh. Stout’s 29-27 win over Whitewater, was the Blue Devils first over the Warhawks since 2001. The Blue Devils had three defensive players named to the All-WIAC team. Brooks Brewer was named D3football.com second-team All-Region.

The Blue Devils went 4-6 in 2023. Stout faced five opponents that were ranked or receiving votes including two ranked in the top-10. Stout won their eighth straight “War on 94” trophy with a 38-13 win at UW-Eau Claire. The Blue Devils had three defensive players named to the All-WIAC team. Cannon Griner was second in the WIAC in total tackles (89) and totaled 18 against UW-Oshkosh. Gervase Thompson received the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete award. 

The Blue Devils went 5-5 in the 2022 campaign. Cannon Griner was second in the WIAC in total tackles with 92 to earn first-team honors He was also named all-region. Scott Gustafson was named honorable mention.
 
The 2021 Blue Devils had defensive back Cannon Griner and defensive lineman Scott Gustafson selected to the All-WIAC second team. Griner was second in the WIAC in interceptions with four and solo tackles with 49. Gustafson was a menace to kickers and blocked four kicks in 2021. 

The 2019 Blue Devils had four players selected to the All-WIAC squad, led by D3football.com All-American defensive back Jed Schlegel. Linebacker Luke Wilz made his second consecutive trip to the All-WIAC squad and he was joined by defensive lineman Mason Olson. Defensive lineman Aaron Wisecup earned his second honorable mention selection. Schlegel tied for the conference lead in interceptions and was third in the league in tackles. Wilz was fifth in the league in tackles. 

The 2018 Blue Devils landed a pair of second team All-WIAC selections in linebacker Luke Wilz and defensive back Levi Wolf. Wolf was third in the league in tackles, while Wilz was sixth.

Destache was selected by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) as the 2017 WIAC assistant coach of the year after his Stout defense lead the WIAC in rushing defense, passing defense, total defense and opponent third down conversions. Stout ranked nationally in the NCAA Division III, finishing 10th in red-zone defense and eighth in third down conversions allowed. The Blue Devils also had four fourth down stops leading to their victory over fourth-ranked St. Thomas. Seven Stout defensive players earned All-WIAC honors and defensive lineman Troy Rudesill earned first team Academic All-District.

In 2015, defensive back Collin Laursen earned second team all-WIAC honors, while linebacker Kyle Hoefft earned honorable mention honors.

In 2014, defensive lineman Jamie Rohrig and linebacker Luke Bakkum earned second team all-conference honors, as well as all-district selection. Defensive lineman Alec Zoern and defensive back Tyler Naatz earned all-WIAC honorable mention selection. Rohrig and Zoern participated in the Tazon de Estrellas, an all-star game.

In 2013, Blue Devil defensive lineman Jamie Rohrig earned second team All-WIAC honors. Linebacker Luke Bakkum was an honorable mention selections, as was defensive back Tyler Naatz, who was named for the second consecutive year. Bakkum was second in the WIAC in total tackles, with 94, 50 solo. Linebacker David Lindell was fifth in the league and Naatz was 12th. Alec Zoern led all conference defensive linemen in tackles with 48.
 
2006-11 (Assistant Coach): Destache spent the first five seasons as an assistant coach on the Blue Devil defense working with the secondary. He helped improve the defense from the eighth ranked defense in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2008 to second in 2009. Of 235 NCAA Division III teams, Stout’s defense ranked 42nd in 2009.
 

PLAYING CAREER

University of Minnesota-Morris (2001-05) A four-year starter, and two-year captain, Destache was named second-team all-conference twice in 2003 and 2005 and first-team all-conference in 2004. He recorded 117 tackles in 2004. In 2003 he recorded 20 tackles in a game which is tied for fourth all time in school history.
 

PERSONAL

A Mahtomedi, Minn. native, Destache earned his bachelor’s degree in management from University of Minnesota-Morris in 2005 and earned his master’s degree in training and development from UW-Stout in 2008. He is currently the Blue Devils' compliance officer, Destache and his wife, Mari, reside in Baldwin with their son and daughter.