Illinois State University Men's Football

Hall Khenon Hall Assistant Coach/Defensive Assistant Twitter: CoachK_Hall Former Redbird defensive back Khenon Hall is in his third season at Illinois State, working as the teams safeties and defensive backs.       Hall served as a mentor for 2014 senior captain Dontae McCoy, who anchored the Redbird defense from the safety spot.  McCoy earned All-MVFC Honorable Mention honors in his final season, after recording 67 tackles and breaking up four passes in his final season at ISU in 2014. He also helped Alec Kocour earn MVFC honorable mention honors, despite playing in just nine games due to an injury. Hall returned to Illinois State, after serving as a graduate assistant at New Mexico working with defensive backs during the 2011-12 season. Prior to that, Hall spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons as a student assistant at Illinois State and assisted with the Redbirds secondary and defensive line.      He started six games for Illinois State in 2008, before suffering a career-ending neck injury.             He would then go on to earn his degree from Illinois State in University Studies in 2010.      Prior to his playing career at ISU, Hall was rated as a two-star junior-college recruit by Rivals.com. While at Trinity Valley Community College, he ranked second on the team in 2007 with 70 tackles, including a team-high 66 solo stops, in eight games of action. In addition, he added four tackles-for-loss and a quarterback sack and was named to the 2006 All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference Honorable Mention team.      Hall is married to the former Jasmine Harris of Normal, Ill. The couple has three children: Jazlyn, Khenon Jr., and Khaydon.

When Brock Spack was named the 20th head coach in Illinois State football history prior to the 2009 season, he saw Illinois State football as a “sleeping giant” – a program that had all of the tools and resources to be a powerhouse in NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), but was lacking the foresight to see itself that way. After seven appearances in the FCS playoffs and back-to-back Missouri Valley Football Conference championships in 2014-15, it looks as if the giant has been awoken.  A three-time finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award ('14, '15, '24), Spack has forever changed the culture of Redbird football. Heading into his 18th season at the helm of the program in 2026, Spack has posted an overall record of 123-79 (.609) and a mark of 75-57 (.568) in Missouri Valley Football Conference play. With his team’s 31-24 win over Eastern Illinois on Sept. 18, 2021, Spack picked up his 87th win at ISU to break the program's win record of 86 previously held by Edwin Struck. With his team's win at Missouri State on Nov. 4, 2023, Spack became just the fourth coach in MVFC history to record 100 wins at a league school. With his 75 wins in league play, Spack ranks third all-time in the MVFC behind Mark Farley of UNI (119) and John Stiegelmeier of South Dakota State (84). With eight more wins, Spack will also overtake Stiegelmeier for third place on the MVFC all-time wins list (131) and he currently leads all active coaches in total wins and conference victories. Much of that success has been aided by a fierce defense of home turf, as the Redbirds have amassed a 70-27 record at Hancock Stadium and a 53-21 mark since the stadium renovations were completed prior in 2013. However, of late the team has also been a stalwart on the road, as ISU is 15-1 against FCS opponents on the road the past two seasons. Spack's teams have also picked up three wins over FBS programs, most recently on the road at Colorado State in 2018. The 2025 season was a magical one for the Redbirds, as Spack led the Redbirds (12-5) back to the FCS National Championship game for the second time in his career. Illinois State was on the cusp of a championship once again, however they eventually fell in overtime to No. 2 Montana State, 35-34. The run to the title game was a historic one, as ISU became the first team in FCS history to win four-straight road games to make the championship contest, including an upset come-from-behind shocker against No. 1 North Dakota State in the second round. The Redbirds were road warriors all year long, going 9-1 on the road with the lone loss being the season opener at Oklahoma. The playoff appearance was the seventh for the Redbirds under Spack's leadership and second in a row. ISU was powered by a veteran group of standouts, which included 12 All-MVFC performers including four First-Team selections in MVFC Defensive Player of the Year Tye Niekamp, wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, offensive lineman Jake Pope and defensive back Shadwel Nkuba II. Niekamp also led a group of six Redbirds selected to All-American teams, as he was named a consensus First-Team All-American and was a Top 10 finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. The team also featured six players named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team and three players that earned Freshman All-America honors, including linebacker Dexter Niekamp and wide receiver Luke Mailander.  In 2024, the Redbirds returned to the postseason for the first time since 2019 after putting together an 9-3 overall record during the regular season and posting a 6-2 mark in MVFC play. ISU advanced to the second round of the playoffs after a first-round victory over Southeast Missouri State, before eventually falling to No. 5 overall seed UC Davis on the road in round two. Spack was named an Eddie Robinson Award Finalist for the third time in his career, as ISU was ranked in every national FCS Top 25 poll for the entirety of the season, charting as high as No. 10 where they finished in the final poll of the year. In total, 11 Redbirds were named All-MVFC performers and a pair of standouts were named FCS All-Americans in senior Keondre Jackson and sophomore Niekamp. The 2022 season was a historic one for the program, as senior outside linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh led the FCS in sacks and tackles for loss per game on way to being named a consensus First-Team All-American and the school's first Buck Buchanan Award recipient. Vandenburgh also was named the FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year, the league's Scholar Athlete of the Year as well as a First-Team Academic All-American and FCS ADA Academic All-Star. The 2019 season was a return to form for the Redbirds, who had missed out on the playoffs the previous two seasons. After a season-opening defeat at the hands of in-state FBS rival Northern Illinois, ISU went on to win six of its next seven games to jump out to a 6-2 mark despite fighting through several key injuries on the offensive side of the ball. A 2-2 mark down the stretch put the 'Birds in the FCS playoffs, where they dominated in a pair of road wins at Southeast Missouri and Central Arkansas before being narrowly defeated 9-3 in the quarterfinals against national champion North Dakota State. Much of that success was due to the strong running game led by consensus All-American James Robinson and a stellar defense that led the FCS in sacks with a school-record 52 and in red zone defense. ISU finished the season ranked in the top 10 in seven defensive categories and finished No. 11 overall in total defense. ISU appeared in every STATS FCS and FCS Coaches Poll throughout the year, finishing with a ranking of No. 7 overall. The Redbirds advanced to the postseason for the third year in a row in 2016, something that had previously not been done in school history. ISU also knocked off a Big Ten Conference foe for the first time in school history, when the Redbirds defeated Northwestern 9-7 at Ryan Field in the second game of the season. The Redbirds went on to win four out of their last five games to earn their spot and a road game at Central Arkansas. Following the season, senior lineman Mark Spelman earned All-American honors and was named the Rimington Award winner as the top FCS center. The 2015 season saw the Redbirds earn a share of the MVFC championship for the second-straight year and post 10 wins for the just the second time in school history.  The Redbirds earned the No. 2 overall seed in the FCS playoffs and advanced to the quarterfinals for the third time in the last four seasons.  ISU finished the year ranked No. 5 overall in the final STATS FCS Poll. The 2014 MVFC Coach of the Year, Spack led the Redbirds to a 10-1 regular season and has set school records for wins and points scored in a season among others. ISU tied three-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State for the MVFC title, the team’s first since 1999, and advanced to the FCS National Championship Game for the first time in school history. ISU finished the season ranked No. 2 in the country in both national FCS polls. A record total of 17 Redbirds were named to the MVFC All-Conference Team in 2014, led by Offensive Player of the Year and All-American, Marshaun Coprich, and Newcomer of the Year, Tre Roberson. In 2012, Spack led the Redbirds to a 9-4 record and the fourth winning season in a row. ISU made just its fourth FCS playoff appearance in school history, defeating perennial powerhouse Appalachian State on the road in the second round. The Redbirds advanced to the quarterfinals for the third time in school history, before eventually ending their season at Eastern Washington.  The team also defeated FBS foe Eastern Michigan early in the season, marking the first win over a FBS program since 1991. The Redbirds were ranked as high as No. 9 in the country and saw a school-record eight players land on the Missouri Valley Football Conference First Team at the end of the season.  Senior Matt Brown was named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year, while setting every passing record in school history, and Tyrone Walker set school records for career receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns. After leading the `Birds to their fourth-straight winning campaign, Spack became the ISU first head coach to guide his team to three-consecutive winning seasons since Edwin Struck led the Redbirds to six-straight winning seasons from 1945-1950. ISU finished the 2011 season with a 7-4 overall record, securing the team’s third-straight winning season. Illinois State was ranked No. 20 in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 final poll and was ranked as high as No. 14 during the regular season. Much of that success was due to Spack taking over the Redbird defense as defensive coordinator prior to the season and turning it into one of the top units in the country. After finishing the 2010 season with a defense that ranked No. 112 out of 117 teams (446.27 ypg), the 2011 Redbird defense helmed by Spack finished the season No. 9 out of 120 teams (294.82 ypg). ISU finished with the No. 5 rushing defense in the country (85.73 ypg) and allowed just 19.18 points per game, ranking them 13th in the FCS in scoring defense, up from a No. 113 ranking in 2010 after giving up 39.64 points per game to opponents. The defensive turnaround was aided by a pair of impact transfers from Illinois, Evan Frierson and Palmer. Frierson listened intently to Spack, and was named an All-MVFC First Team and MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection after recording 15.0 tackles for loss (T-10th on single-season list) and 6.5 sacks (T-14th on single-season list). Palmer led the Valley with 9.5 sacks (5th on single-season list) and earned a spot on the All-MVFC Second Team and MVFC All-Newcomer Team for his efforts. Spack also watched Eric Brunner finish his career as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the country. A two-time All-MVFC First-Team pick, Brunner ended his senior season with career-high numbers in tackles (55), sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (13).  A new offensive approach has also resulted in record-setting numbers for the Redbirds over the past two seasons. The ISU passing offense ranked third in the Valley with an average of 199.6 yards per game in 2011 and was second in the league in rushing offense with 183.4 yards per game on the ground, an improvement of nearly 50 yards per game from 2010. The Redbirds’ 321 points scored in 2010 were the seventh-most in school history and team’s highest total since scoring 324 in 2007. It was just the 10th time in school history that ISU scored more than 300 points in a season. Those numbers bested the impressive numbers set by the Redbird offense in Spack’s first season at the helm in 2009. Illinois State’s revamped offense set a school single-season record with a 66.3 completion percentage and also ranks second in completions (272), fourth in passing yards (246.4) and sixth in passing yards (2,710) on the ISU single-season charts. The 2010 season started well for the Redbirds, who jumped out to a 3-1 record after wins thrilling wins at home against Central Missouri and Missouri State and a tough road win at No. 20 South Dakota State. That start earned ISU its first national ranking since 2007, climbing as high as No. 19 in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll and No. 23 in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 Poll. In addition, with wins over No. 14 North Dakota State and No. 20 South Dakota State, the Redbirds beat a pair of ranked foes in the same season for the first time since 2006.  Overall, Spack has coached 27 All-Americans, helped over 160 players earn All-MVFC honors and has mentored 56 players named to the league’s All-Newcomer team. In addition to his team’s success on the gridiron, Spack’s players have set program grade-point average records, with the team setting a new standard of 3.21 during the Spring 2024 semester. Spack has also helped over 36 Redbird players earn opportunities to play at the next level. Four of those players were taken in the NFL Draft: Nate Palmer (6th round, Green Bay, 2013), Shelby Harris (7th round, Oakland, 2014), James O’Shaughnessy (5th round, Kansas City, 2015) and Davontae Harris (5th round, Cincinnati, 2018). Spack came to Illinois State following 12 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Purdue, where he guided the Boilermakers to the top-ranked defense in the Big Ten Conference in 2002 and the 13th-best defense in the nation in 2003. He coached in 11 bowl games while at Purdue, including a Rose Bowl appearance in 2001. In June of 2008, Spack was recognized as one of the top linebacker coaches in FBS football by Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com and twenty-seven of his former players went on to play in the NFL. From 2000 to 2004, the Purdue defense became one of the stingiest units in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers were tops in total defense in 2002 (317.2 yards per game) - the first time they had been No. 1 since 1967 - after ranking third in 2000 and 2001.  As defensive coordinator at Wyoming in 1995 and 1996, Spack recharged the defense, which improved from fifth to second in total defense in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Cowboys topped the WAC in sacks during his two years, including a school-record 46 in 1996. Spack was Purdue’s inside linebackers coach from 1991 to 1994 and was a graduate assistant coach for the Boilermakers in 1984 and 1985. From 1987 to 1990, he was an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois (linebackers/defensive line/recruiting coordinator) and in 1986, was at Wabash College. He graduated from Purdue in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies. He earned a master’s degree in physical education from Eastern Illinois in 1990. Spack played linebacker for the Boilermakers from 1980-83, earning first-team All-Big Ten and honorable mention All-America honors as a sophomore. He was a three-year starter and currently ranks fifth on the Boilermakers’ career tackles list with 384. He currently represents the program and the MVFC on the American Football Coaches Association Ethics Committee.  A native of Rockford, Ill., Spack and his wife, Aimee, reside in Bloomington. Their daughter, Alicia, was a collegiate softball player at Purdue and worked as the director of football operations for the Redbirds, and their son, Brent, is a former linebacker for the Redbirds. 

Former Illinois State All-American linebacker Kye Stewart begins his eighth season as the team’s outside linebackers coach in 2025. Stewart also serves the program as the defensive assistant head coach and co-special teams coordinator. The Redbird defense was particularly stout against the run in 2024, ranking fourth in the conference in rushing yards given up per game at 157.1. The group also finished year fifth in the league in defensive efficiency at 135.7, thanks to the play of All-MVFC Honorable Mention team selection Amir Abdullah who missed seven games due to injury, but solidified the Redbird defense in four wins at the end of the regular season with his return while tallying 4.0 sacks, 6.5 TFLs and 30 tackles in just seven games played. The 2023 season saw the Redbirds become one of the best in the MVFC, thanks to the emergence of transfer All-American linebacker Amir Abdullah, who went on to finish ninth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award. The Redbird defense spent a lot of time in the backfield, as it ranked No. 3 in the country in sacks per game and ranked No. 16 in tackles-for-loss per contest. The 2022 season was a historic one for the program, as senior outside linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh led the FCS in sacks and tackles for loss per game on way to being named a consensus First-Team All-American and the school's first Buck Buchanan Award recipient. Vandenburgh also was named the FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year, the league's Scholar Athlete of the Year as well as a First-Team Academic All-American and FCS ADA Academic All-Star. The linebacker corps was a big part of the team's dominant defensive effort in 2019 that led to a FCS leading and school-record 52 sacks on the year. Linebackers Tuvone Clark, Brandon Simon, Zeke Vandenburgh, DeMarco Washington and Damien Jackson combined for 16.5 sacks and 33.5 TFLs on the season while helping the Redbirds to a No. 11 ranking in total defense in the FCS. Stewart's outside linebackers aided the Redbirds in posting the second-best scoring defensive in the MVFC (20.0) and the second-best total defense (309.8 ypg) in the conference behind eventual national champion North Dakota State. Stewart returned to Illinois State by way of Alcorn State, where he spent two seasons with the Braves as their defensive line coach.  The Braves improved to No. 2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in pass efficiency defense (114.9) and No. 3 in scoring defense (21.8 ppg) and rushing defense (133.1 ypg) in 2017. The Braves won their fourth-consecutive SWAC East Division title and became the first team in the history of the league to play in four consecutive SWAC Championship games. Prior to his move to Alcorn State, Stewart worked for three seasons as a member of the Memphis football coaching staff, serving in the role as a graduate assistant coach on the defensive side of the football. He was mentored by head coach Justin Fuente, who was offensive coordinator at ISU during Stewart’s career, and Galen Scott, who was his defensive coordinator while playing for the Redbirds. In 2014, Memphis ranked 11th in FBS Football in scoring defense, allowing just 195 points per game. The Tigers only gave up 349 yards a game, which ranked 27th in the nation. Memphis’ 106.31 defensive pass efficiency rating led the American Athletic Conference and ranked eighth nationally while the Tigers’ 121.5 rushing defense average was 19th nationally. Memphis won the American Athletic Conference championship, the team's first league title since 1971, and posted a 10-3 record en route to a Miami Beach Bowl title. In Stewart's first season as a member of the staff in 2013, Memphis' defense ranked 39th nationally in total defense (370.7 ypg allowed) and 12th against the run (116.3 ypg allowed). Stewart joined the Memphis staff after playing four seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders (2009-11) and the Edmonton Eskimos (2012). Stewart, who played linebacker, was a member a Saskatchewan team which advanced to the Grey Cup Finals both in 2009 and 2010. Stewart played in the CFL after a four-year playing career at Illinois State. At Illinois State, Stewart was a two-time All-Gateway Conference player who concluded his playing career as an All-American in 2007. That same season, he finished fourth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is annually given to the Defensive Player of the Year in NCAA FCS football. ISU advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs during junior season in 2006. The Nashville, Tennessee, native graduated from ISU in 2008 with a degree in communications and a minor in business administration.  

Bob Dunn is in his first season with the Redbird coaching staff and serves as the program's quarterbacks coach. Dunn joins the Redbird staff after spending the past three seasons at Wisconsin-Eau Claire as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Blugold Football. Under Dunn’s leadership, the Eau Claire offense improved each season with the team averaging 26 points per game and nearly 340 yards of total offense per game in 2025. The quarterbacks averaged 217 passing yards per contest, with Ayden Helder leading the way with 2,109 yards passing, 12 touchdowns and completion percentage of 61.5 percent. Prior to heading to Eau Claire, Dunn coached at Northern Michigan for one year. His stint with the Wildcats as their quarterback coach included a year of progression through the passing game with improvements in many statistical categories from the year prior and ended the 2022 season ranked second in the GLIAC in QB efficiency.  Prior to Northern Michigan, Dunn was heavily involved at Wisconsin and its success from 2015-2022 under former head coach Paul Chryst. During the 2015 season, Dunn began as a recruiting and coaches' assistant, where he aided in the development of a recruiting database and evaluation systems. From 2016-2017, Dunn served as a student assistant coach which saw him communicating plays to quarterbacks during games and creating scouting reports.  In 2018, he continued at Madison participating in a graduate assistantship with the football team while studying Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. In that role, he worked primarily with the Badger quarterbacks and in 2021, he was promoted to quality control assistant while continuing his work with the Badger signal-callers. A Madison native, Dunn played quarterback at Edgewood High School and, as a senior, was named winner of the Ray W. Huegel Memorial Award that is annually presented to the city’s top offensive player.

Harold Etheridge begins his seventh season working with the Illinois State offensive line in 2025, in his second stint with the Redbird coaching staff. The Redbird offense ranked second in the conference and No. 17 in the country in passing offense with 238.1 yards per game in 2024 and was No. 33 in the country in total offense with 402 yards per game. Much of that success was due to the team's efficiency on third down, as the Birds ranked No. 19 in the country in third down conversion percentage at 45.6 and ranked 10th in the country with 303 first downs overall. The offense line was also stout against the pass rush, allowing just 1.5 sacks per game which ranked No. 31 in the country. The Redbird offensive line was one of the best in the MVFC in 2023, as the unit led by All-MVFC selection Hunter Zambrano  allowed the fewest sacks in the MVFC with just 7 on the year, ranking the group in the top 5 nationally. ISU’s rushing offense also ranked third in the league with 197.5 yards per game on the ground, including a season-high 345 yards against Murray State and ranked third in the league in total offense with 433.5 yards per contest and third in scoring. The Redbird offensive front dealt with injury early in the 2019 season that resulted in some shuffling up front, but once the group settled in they became one of the best units in the FCS. Led by consensus first-team All-American Drew Himmelman and MVFC Honorable Mention selection Adam Solomon, the offensive line was crucial in the success of All-American James Robinson who finished the season ranked No. 2 in the FCS in rushing yards and yards per game and sixth in rushing touchdowns. Etheridge's offensive line unit, anchored by 2018 HERO Sports FCS Sophomore All-America First-Team selection and All-Missouri Valley Conference Second-Team pick Drew Himmelman, was a critical part in making ISU the third-best scoring offense in the conference. The offensive line led the way for James Robinson, who rushed for a league-leading 1,290 yards with 12 touchdowns and earned multiple All-America honors following the season. A veteran coach with more than two decades of experience, Etheridge returned to Normal prior to the 2018 season after previously spending nine seasons as the offensive line coach for the Redbirds in the late 1990s. During that time, Etheridge helped the Redbirds earn a spot in the NCAA FCS playoffs in 1998, before winning the Gateway Conference title and reaching the FCS semifinal game in 1999. In 2000, he moved with former ISU head coach Todd Berry to Army and coached the Black Knights’ offensive line for four seasons. Most recently, Etheridge spent four seasons at Georgia State after joining head coach Trent Miles’ coaching staff in 2013 as the offensive line coach and assistant head coach. Etheridge previously worked with Miles for three seasons at Indiana State (2010-12), helping the Sycamores post three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 1960s. While at Georgia State, Etheridge’s offensive front blocked for record-setting quarterback Nick Arbuckle the last two seasons, helping him lead the Sun Belt Conference in passing and rank in the top 15 nationally both years. Etheridge also helped develop offensive tackle Ulrick John into a NFL prospect. John was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.  At Indiana State, Etheridge served as Miles’ offensive coordinator the last two years and his offensive line coach for three seasons. In two years as the Sycamores’ offensive coordinator, Etheridge produced one of the nation’s top rushers in running back Shakir Bell. A first-team All-American as a sophomore in 2011, Bell led the nation in rushing with 151.8 yards per game and tied for second in voting for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in the FCS. In 2012, Bell ranked sixth nationally in rushing (134.1 ypg) while earning second-team All-America honors. Before going to Indiana State, Etheridge spent the previous two years coaching the offensive line at Washington State (2008-09) and one year in the same role at Northern Illinois (2007). During a three-year stint as the offensive line coach at North Texas (2004-06), Etheridge produced an offensive line that blocked for the nation’s leading rusher in 2004 in Jamario Thomas, who ran for 180.1 yards per game. The Mean Green won the Sun Belt Conference title and earned a berth in the New Orleans Bowl. In 2000, he moved with head coach Todd Berry to Army and coached the Black Knights’ offensive line for four seasons before heading to North Texas. Etheridge then spent the next nine seasons as the offensive line coach at Illinois State in his first stint, helping the Redbirds earn a spot in the NCAA FCS playoffs in 1998 before winning the Gateway Conference title and reaching the FCS semifinal game in 1999. Etheridge began his coaching career in the high school ranks, first at Gallup (N.M.) High School (1983-86) and then Ballard (Ky.) High School (1987-88). From there, he moved to a collegiate position at Kentucky, serving as a graduate assistant working with offensive tackles in 1989-90. He worked under GSU’s first head coach Bill Curry in his second season at UK. A native of Gallup, N.M., Etheridge was a four-year starting offensive guard for Western New Mexico (1979-82). He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from the school in 1982. Etheridge, who in 2001 published a book entitled “Coaching the Front Liners,” and his wife, Jeanne, are the parents of twins, Clayton and Eliza.  

Dru Richardson is in his first season an assistant coach working with the Redbird defensive backs in 2025. Richardson works alongside veteran Redbird assistant coach Cody Deti to mentor the ISU defensive backfield. Richardson came to Illinois State from Elmhurst University, where he spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach.  Richardson came to Elmhurst following one season as the defensive backs coach and academic coordinator at Illinois Wesleyan. Richardson also made stops at Berry College from 2020-22 as a defensive backs and strength and conditioning coach, at Ohio Northern from 2018-20 as safeties coach, and at Roosevelt University as a graduate assistant from 2016-18. A four-year letterwinner at Robert Morris University (currently Roosevelt University) from 2012-2016, Richardson was a member of the NAIA’s top rushing defense in 2014 as a defensive back, allowing 75.8 rushing yards per game and leading his team to a 29-14 record in his time at Robert Morris.  Richardson owns a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was a member of the Sigma Beta Delta honor society. He also holds a master’s degree in management with a sports administration concentration from Roosevelt University.  

Rob Snyder is in his first season as a member of the Redbird Football coaching staff and works directly with the defensive line. Snyder comes to Illinois State after spending the past two seasons at Nicholls State working with the Colonels’ defensive line. Last season, the Colonels ranked as the No. 33 total defense in the country thanks to a pass rush that helped the program rank ninth nationally in passing yards allowed. The Colonels were also strong in taking the ball away, ranking No. 17 in turnovers gained in the FCS.  In his first year in 2024, the Colonel defense ranked fourth in the FCS in rushing yards allowed with a school record 83.9 yards per game. Nicholls also surrendered just six rushing touchdowns for the season which was the fewest allowed in the FCS. The line had a pair of first-team All-Southland selections as Zack Bernard and Rasheed Lovelace were two of four defensive honorees for the Colonels. Prior to joining the coaching staff at Nicholls, Snyder served in the same role in the Missouri Valley Football Conference at South Dakota for the 2023 season. Previously, Snyder spent time as a walk-on and student coach at LSU before graduating in 2015 and was a defensive analyst for the Tigers from 2016-18. He worked directly with defensive line coach Pete Jenkins and special teams coach Bradley Dale Peveto. Snyder assisted a defense that ranked fifth nationally in 2016 and won the Citrus Bowl over Louisville.   Snyder later joined the staff at Missouri in 2019 and was responsible for coaching all phases of the defensive line, particularly the defensive ends. In 2021, he returned to Louisiana to serve as defensive coordinator for Holy Cross in New Orleans and then spent the 2022 season as defensive line coach and coordinator at Jesuit.   Snyder and his wife, Evon, have two rescue dogs, Junior and Chip.

KeyShawn Carpenter is in his first season with Redbird Football and will work with the ISU running backs. He joins the Redbird staff after spending the 2025 season as an offensive quality control assistant at North Dakota State. Prior to working with the Bison, Carpenter spent five seasons at Wisconsin-Stout, working with the team’s wide receivers and running backs. In 2023, the Stout offense averaged 430.8 yards per game and 293.9 per game passing (third in the WIAC) and had three receivers in the top-10 of the WIAC in yards per game. During the 2022 campaign, the Blue Devils offensive averaged 424.9 yards of offense (second in the WIAC) and scored 32.2 points a game (fourth in the WIAC).  During the 2021 season, Carpenter was a member of the Minnesota-Duluth staff that led the Bulldogs to the NSIC conference title and to the NCAA DII Playoffs. Prior to that, he began his coaching career with UW-Stout during the 2019 season and worked there through 2020, working with the Blue Devil running backs.   Carpenter was team captain and a first-team All-WIAC running back during his playing career at UW-Stout (2014-18). He finished his career with 1,044 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns and had a career-high 182-yard, three touchdown game against UW-Stevens Point his senior year. During his high school prep career at Evergreen Park High School, Carpenter earned all-conference, all-area and all-state honors and his teams were conference champions (2013) and state semifinalists (2012).  

Cody Deti begins his 15th season with the Illinois State football coaching staff in 2025 and will continue to oversee the Redbird secondary. The Redbird defense finished year fifth in the league in defensive efficiency at 135.7 in 2024, and  All-American safety Keondre Jackson who was selected to participate in the Hula Bowl and the Reese's Senior Bowl after earning All-MVFC First Team honors. Jackson ranked third on the team with 99 total tackles, was sixth in the MVFC tackles and was also credited with 1.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three interceptions on the year. Deti's charges were key to the success of the Redbird defense in 2019. Led by All-American safety Luther Kirk and All-MVFC First Team standout Devin Taylor, the Redbird secondary t ranked No. 3 in the country in passes intercepted with 19 and No. 11 in pass efficiency defense. Their performances in the defensive backfield also aided in a team-record 52 sacks on the year and a No. 11 rank in total defense. During the 2018 season, Deti's secondary helped the Redbirds post the second-best scoring defensive in the MVFC (20.0) and the second-best total defense (309.8 ypg) behind eventual national champion North Dakota State. Safety Luther Kirk (1st team) and cornerback Devin Taylor (2nd team) both earned All-MVFC honors, as ISU fielded one of the better defensive back units in the league. During his time working with the Redbird defensive backs, Deti helped safety Ben Ericksen earn All-America honors and Mike Banks and Dontae McCoy become All-MVFC selections. His most recent success was Davontae Harris, who was named a first-team All-American and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Ericksen was named a Third-Team All-America selection by The Sports Network and the Associated Press and selected to the College Sporting News 2012 Fabulous Fifty FCS All-America Team. That same season, Ericksen earned All-MVFC First-Team honors, after he finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country in interceptions per game and led the MVFC with seven. In 2014, Banks ended his illustrious career with the Redbirds and is one of the most durable players in ISU history, having started every game of his career (50 total).  He earned All-MVFC Second-Team honors as a cornerback and finished his career with the third-most passes defended in ISU history (46). While Banks patrolled the cornerback position, senior captain Dontae McCoy anchored the Redbird defense from the safety spot.  McCoy earned All-MVFC Honorable Mention honors, after recording 67 tackles and breaking up four passes in his final season at ISU in 2014. Deti helped the Redbird secondary improve dramatically in his first season with ISU in 2011. The Redbird defense was ranked No. 9 in the country, after finishing No. 112 the previous year, and the Redbird secondary improved 22 spots on the national list in pass efficiency defense. Much of that was due to the leadership of senior Otis Merrill and the emergence of Banks. Merrill was an All-MVFC Second Team selection at defensive back, after starting the final 10 games of the season and recording 41 tackles and an interception. Banks started all 11 games as a true freshman and was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team at defensive back. Deti came to Illinois State after serving as the defensive coordinator for head coach Scott Downing for five seasons at Northern Colorado, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program out of the Big Sky Conference. Deti’s defense improved every season, as the 2009 team allowed 20 yards less per game than 2008 and the 2008 team allowed almost 100 yards less per game than 2007. Prior to his stint at Northern Colorado, Deti spent three seasons on head coach Danny Hope’s staff at Eastern Kentucky, where he worked with the defensive secondary and helped the Colonels to a 7-4 record and 7-1 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2005. Prior to coaching at Eastern Kentucky, Deti spent three seasons at Princeton. He joined the Tigers staff in 2000, serving as the defensive assistant. In 2001, he moved to the offensive side of the ball, coaching tight ends, and spent his final season at Princeton as the wide receivers coach. From 1997-99, Deti was a graduate assistant coach at Purdue, where he coached alongside Brock Spack who served as the team’s defensive coordinator. In his time with the Boilermakers, the team made two appearances in the Alamo Bowl and one in the Outback Bowl. Deti played defensive back at Wyoming (1992-93), while Downing was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, before his career was cut short by an injury. He stayed active with the program by serving as a student assistant coach from 1994-96 and was part of the 1996 WAC Championship squad. Deti comes from a long line of football coaches, as his grandfather John was the head coach at Laramie High School for 33 years and his father John was the head coach at Laramie for 26 years. Deti earned his bachelor’s degree in health science from Wyoming in 1997 and his master’s degree in history and philosophy of sport from Purdue in 1999.  He resides in Normal, Ill., with his wife, Megan, and their children, Samuel, Maddisyn and Emma.

Mickey Turner is in his third season as part of the Redbird coaching staff, working with the team's wide receivers in addition to serving as the team co-special teams coordinator. The Redbird offense ranked second in the conference and No. 17 in the country in passing offense with 238.1 yards per game in 2024 and was No. 33 in the country in total offense with 402 yards per game. Much of that success was due to the team's efficiency on third down, as the Birds ranked No. 19 in the country in third down conversion percentage at 45.6 and ranked 10th in the country with 303 first downs overall. The wideouts were led by MVFC Second-Team selection Daniel Sobkowicz, who  ranked second in the MVFC with 1,108 receiving yards on 80 receptions (13.9 yards per catch) and became Illinois State's first 1,000 plus yard receiver since Anthony Warrum in 2016. The wide receivers also saw a boost from transfer Xavier Loyd, who earned All-MVFC Honorable Mention honors and was a member of the MVFC All-Newcomer team after he ranked in the top 7 in the league in yards, touchdowns, and receptions. The 2023 season saw a resurgence for the Redbirds offense, which featured one of the most prolific attacks in the FCS. Illinois State ranked No. 10 in the country in total offense with 434.4 yards per game and No. 12 in scoring offense with 32.8 points per contest. Sobkowicz had a breakout season to earn All-MVFC Second-Team honors as he ranked in the top 20 in the country in touchdowns (10), receiving yards (933), yards per game (84.8) and receptions per game (6.2). Turner came to Illinois State after spending the past eight years as member of the Wisconsin coaching staff. In his eight years as tight ends coach, Turner helped the Badgers win 72 games, three Big Ten West Division titles and seven bowl victories in the Holiday, Cotton, Orange, Pinstripe, Duke’s Mayo, Las Vegas and Guaranteed Rate bowls. He also was in charge of the recruiting department his last two seasons with the Badgers. Under Turner’s direction, current Dallas Cowboys starter, Jake Ferguson emerged as a top target in the passing game, leading the Badgers in catches and yards in each of his final two seasons. His star pupil in his first three seasons at UW was tight end Troy Fumagalli, a finalist for the John Mackey Award and second-team All-American as a senior in 2017. He led the Badgers in receptions (46) and receiving yards (547) while pulling in four touchdown catches on the way to earning first-team All-Big Ten laurels. Turner added responsibility for Wisconsin’s fullbacks in 2017, with senior Austin Ramesh and junior Alec Ingold serving as key parts of the Badgers’ offensive attack. The duo combined for six touchdowns and were integral to a rushing effort that saw UW average 222.9 yards per game. Turner played for the Badgers from 2006-09, serving as a captain during his senior season in 2009 and contributing to a UW team that went 10-3 and downed Miami to win the Champs Sports Bowl. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Turner was presented with the team’s Ivan B. Williamson Scholastic Award as a senior. Before returning to Madison, Turner spent the previous three years at the University of Pittsburgh where he served as a graduate assistant in 2013 and was the Panthers' assistant director of player development in 2014. The 2010 UW graduate went on to earn an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis before joining Chryst’s staff in 2012. He and his wife, Katie, have a daughter, Callie, and two sons, Jackson and Tatum.  

Former ISU defensive lineman and Redbird assistant coach Travis Niekamp begins his eighth season as the team's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach in 2025. Niekamp previously served as outside linebacker, safeties and defensive tackles coach for head coach Todd Berry at Illinois State (1998-99). The Redbird defense was particularly stout against the run in 2024, ranking fourth in the conference in rushing yards given up per game at 157.1. The group also finished year fifth in the league in defensive efficiency at 135.7, and featured a pair of All-American players in safety Keondre Jackson and middle linebacker Tye Niekamp. The 2023 season saw the Redbirds have nine new starters on defense, but that group came together quickly to become one of the best in the MVFC. The Redbird defense ranked No. 3 in the country in sacks per game and ranked No. 16 in tackles-for-loss per contest. That effort was led by senior Josh Dinga and All-American outside linebacker Amir Abdullah, who went on to finish ninth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award. In 2022, the Redbirds were once again among the top defenses in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the FCS. Illinois State ranked No. 10 in total defense (318.5 ypg) and No. 11 in scoring defense, allowing just 20.4 points per game to opponents. The Redbird defense also got to opposing quarterbacks regularly, ranking No. 5 in the country with 3.18 sacks per contest thanks to a dominant effort from outside linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh, who led the country in sacks per game and went on to be named the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award winner as the top FCS defensive player in the country. In his first season as the helm of the Redbird defense, Niekamp's defensive unit was one of the best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the FCS. The Redbirds ranked in the top 10 of the FCS in team passing efficiency defense (No. 9 - 105.23) and scoring defense (No. 10 - 20.0 ppg) and finished the year ranked No. 13 in total defense (309.8 ypg). ISU also ranked second in the conference in nearly every defensive category behind eventual national champion North Dakota State. Niekamp spent two seasons as part of the coaching staff at Montana prior to returning to Illinois State, serving as the Grizzlies’ special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. He joined head coach Bob Stitt’s staff in January of 2016, and in his first season at Montana, Niekamp coached linebacker Josh Buss, who finished the 2016 season as Montana’s leading tackler. Buss posted 20 tackles for loss, a national best among sophomores, and earned a place on the HERO Sports FCS Sophomore Defensive All-America first team. Prior to heading to Montana, Niekamp served as Louisiana-Monroe’s co-defensive coordinator in 2015 for Berry, as well as the Warhawks’ special teams coordinator and linebackers coach from 2013-2015. In 2012, Niekamp served as ULM’s tight ends coach.   No stranger to the Northwest, Niekamp also served as linebackers coach at Washington State from 2007-2011, in addition to serving as the Cougars' director of football development. Prior to his time in Pullman, he was the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Eastern Washington from 2004-2007.   Following his playing career as a defensive lineman at Illinois State (1994-1997), Niekamp joined the coaching staff and helped the Redbirds earn a spot in the NCAA FCS playoffs in 1998, before winning the program’s first Gateway Conference title and reaching the FCS semifinal game in 1999. In 2000, he moved with Berry to the United States Military Academy as tight ends coach (2000-03).    A native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Niekamp and his wife, Tracy, have three children -- Tye Dalton, Dexter Kole and Brooke Ryan.

Another familiar face to the Illinois State football coaching staff, former Redbird offensive lineman and student assistant coach C.J. Irvin took over as tight ends coach in 2019 and begins his seventh year in that role in 2025, along with serving as the assistant offensive line coach and professional liason l for the program. The Redbird offense had a breakout season in 2024, ranking fourth in the MVFC in passing offense with 238 yards per contest and was fifth in total offense with 402 yards per game.  Under Irvin's direction, current Cincinnati Bengals tight end Cam Grandy emerged as a top target in the passing game, earning consensus First-Team All-American honors following the 2023 season. Grandy led the Redbirds' TE group in catches (63), yards (612), and TDs (3) on his way to the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl prior to signing with Cincinnati as a free agent in 2023 and earning first-team All-MVFC laurels. In 2022, Irvin helped guide a pair of Redbird tight ends to postseason accolades as Tanner Taula and Bryson Deming both received Honorable Mention All-MVFC laurels. Taula would go on to play in the CSG All-Star Game before signing as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the 2021 fall season, Irvin's TE group combined for 33 catches for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Bryson Deming and Tanner Taula combined for 26 catches, 273 yards, and two touchdowns for the Redbirds. During the 2021 spring season, Taula lead the way for Redbird tight ends with 13 catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Redbird fullbacks Tim McCloyn and Tyler Pennington each collected a rushing touchdown as McCloyn would receive Second Team All-MVFC honors for the spring.  The Redbird tight ends were a big part of the success of the ISU running attack led by All-American James Robinson in 2019. Starters Robert Gillum and Tanner Taula combined for 12 receptions on the season and were integral in blocking schemes for the Redbirds. In his role as special teams coordinator, Irvin watched as Sam Fenlason kicked his way to MVFC Honorable Mention honors after a bounce back year in 2019. Irvin returned to Illinois State after spending the 2018 season with the Wisconsin football program. Irvin served in a quality control role with the Badgers' offensive line, helping lead the Badgers to an appearance in the 2018 Pinstripe Bowl against Miami (FL). Irvin came to UW after spending the 2017 season as a graduate assistant at Texas, where he worked with the Longhorns' offensive line, including for the Longhorns' matchup with Missouri in the Texas Bowl. He held a similar position at Houston for the 2016 season and also served as interim offensive line coach for the Cougars' matchup with San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl. His coaching career began as a student assistant at Illinois State, a role he filled for two seasons after suffering foot injuries that ended his playing career for the Redbirds. He helped Illinois State reach the FCS National Championship game in 2014 and the FCS quarterfinals in 2015. Irvin, who received the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Commissioners Academic Excellence Award, graduated from Illinois State in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology/physical education. He resides in Bloomington with his wife, Caitlin, along with their daughter Carsyn, and son, Cooper.

Holden Boyle is in his fifth season as the program’s Director of Football Operations. Boyle comes to Illinois State after spending three seasons at Western Illinois in the same role. In his role at ISU, Boyle will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the program, handling team logistics, schedules, travel, practice preparation, overseeing the football budget as well as supervising the Redbirds’ recruiting efforts and support staff. While at WIU, Boyle oversaw the day-to-day operations of the football program which included team travel, management of the football program’s budget, camps and clinics, game day operations, external communications and other administrative responsibilities. He also served as a liaison to various departments on campus including compliance, housing and dining and athletic academic advising among others. He joined the Leatherneck program after spending two years at Arizona State working in the operations and recruiting departments. A Chicago native, Boyle is a graduate of Arizona State where he earned two bachelor’s degrees in business management and sports business. He earned his masters of sport management at Western Illinois.