Midwestern State University Men's Football

Rich Renner took over as the head coach of the Mustangs after 14 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Midwestern State.    The defense thrived under his tutelage with the Mustangs advancing to the NCAA Division II postseason on six occasions (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017) while also appearing in the 2010 Kanza Bowl.   In the first year under Renner's direction in 2008, the defensive unit ranked 48th in NCAA Division II allowing 322.4 yards per game in 2008, but was 11th in the country as run stoppers allowing just 86.2 yards on the ground.   His 2009 defense ranked fourth in the country allowing fewer than 20 points in nine of 12 games as opponents averaged a miniscule 13.6 points a game. That season, the Mustangs boasted NCAA II's 39th best defense (312.5 yards per game) ranking 12th in pass efficiency defense (97.49) and 30th against the run (110.75 yards per game).   The Mustangs rated fourth in the LSC and 89th nationally in total defense (372.58 yards per game) in 2010 while ranking third in the league in scoring defense allowing just less than 24 points a game.   Midwestern boasted one of NCAA Division II's top rushing defenses allowing just under 113 yards per game in 2011. The Mustangs rated third in the LSC and 64th nationally in total defense (357.4 yards per game) and were second in the league and 43rd in the country in scoring defense allowing 23.4 points per game.   In 2012, MSU ranked fifth in the LSC and 83rd nationally in total defense (372.27 yards per game) while ranking fourth in the league and 67th in NCAA II in scoring defense permitting 25.4 points a game. In the 2013 campaign, the Mustangs led the LSC and ranked 34th in total defense allowing 341.7 yards a game, while leading the league and ranking 46th in NCAA II in scoring defense allowing 23.9 points an outing.  MSU led the LSC and ranked 20th in pass efficiency defense with a 109.33 rating, led the LSC and was 25th nationally by allowing 188.5 passing yards a game, and led the LSC and ranked fourth in the Division II with a 1.5 turnover margin. Midwestern's stout defense in 2014 ranking second in the LSC and 95th in NCAA Division II permitting 399.5 yards per game. MSU topped the defensive charts playing a vital role in the Mustangs' 10-1 regular season run on the way to a LSC playoff title and a top seed in the NCAA Division II postseason. Midwestern led the LSC and ranked 80th nationally allowing 382.92 yards per game while holding the opposition to 23.4 points a contest. The Mustangs boasted the top defense in the Lone Star Conference in 2015 holding the opposition to 382.9 yards per game (80th in NCAA Division II) while leading the league in scoring defense permitting 23.4 points per game (48th in NCAA Division II). The unit proved to be opportunistic forcing 29 turnovers (first in LSC, 21st nationally).   The Mustangs  ranked in the top four of the Lone Star Conference in total defense in eight of Renner's 14 seasons as a defensive coordinator while boasting the league's top defense in 2013 and 2015.   Always noted for developing raw talent, Renner's defenses produced four-year starter Marqui Christian, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. The 2015 Cliff Harris Award winner as the Small College Defensive Player of the Year also earned top defensive honors in the LSC and was the league's defensive player of the year. Christian is one of five MSU defensive players to earn D2CCA All-America honors during Renner's tenure as coordinator. Christian earned first-team honors in 2015 while teammates Daniel Laudermilk and Dominique Rouse took second-team accolades. Cornerbacks Micah Hill (2009) and Neiko Conway (2013) were also second-team All Americans. Renner's defenses have also produced 17 all-region performers and 16 all-conference first-teamers.   Renner, who coached the defensive line in 2006 and 2007 prior to his appointment as defensive coordinator, produced a pair of All-LSC South first-team performers in Justin Williams and Donial Arps, a second-teamer in Todd Zoglmann and Cody Thompson gained honorable mention during the Mustangs’ postseason run in 2006.   In 2007, the defensive line unit helped the Mustangs develop the best defense in the NCAA Division II’s Southwest Region in terms of total yards allowed and boasted three All-LSC South second-team performers in Zoglmann, Kellen Belcher and Justin Foyt while Stephen Turner garnered honorable mention.   Under Renner’s mentorship, the Mustangs’ defensive line was superb against the rush.   MSU rated tops in the conference in 2006 and 2007 and was 46th in NCAA Division II in 2006 allowing 108.8 yards per game and was 12th in 2007 yielding a stingy 93.9 yards a contest.   Before moving to Wichita Falls, Renner served as a linebacker and defensive line coach and was the video coordinator at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.   His other coaching experience included a stop at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. in 1999 after serving as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisville from 1997-99 where he helped the Cardinals to a Motor City Bowl appearance in 1998. Playing Career Renner showed true grit during his playing career at Louisville. He walked on in 1993 and before earning a scholarship for his final two seasons. Personal A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Renner was a two-year letterman before earning his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and later a master’s degree in sports administration in 1999 at the University of Louisville.   Renner and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents to a daughter, Addison Grace and son Grant Michael.   The family resides in Wichita Falls. The Renner File Graduate Asst. at Louisville (SC/VC) - 1997-98 Graduate Asst. at Austin Peay (DL) - 1999 Asst. Coach at West Texas A&M (LB/DL) - 2000-05 Asst. Coach at Midwestern State (DL) - 2006-07 Defensive Coordinator at Midwestern State - 2008-2023 Head Coach at Midwestern State - 2024- Renner As Defensive Coordinator Year School Rushing Yards* NCAA II LSC Passing Yards* NCAA II LSC Total Yards* NCAA II LSC 2023 Midwestern State 148.9 89 5 166.6 21 4 315.5 47 4 2022 Midwestern State 140.5 72 5 233.9 132 7 374.5 93 5 2021 Midwestern State 149.9 81 6 229.7 110 6 379.6 99 7 20201 Midwestern State 109.0 17 5 250.0 41 5 359.0 30 4 2019 Midwestern State 223.6 150 7 201.5 67 4 425.1 128 7 2018 Midwestern State 190.1 123 6 208.0 83 6 398.1 112 6 2017 Midwestern State 207.5 142 9 235.1 129 4 442.5 144 7 2016 Midwestern State 215.1 149 10 190.1 37 2 405.2 106 5 2015 Midwestern State 181.0 108 3 201.9 57 2 382.9 80 1 2014 Midwestern State 169.2 93 3 230.3 104 3 399.5 95 2 2013 Midwestern State 153.2 71 5 188.5 25 1 341.7 34 1 2012 Midwestern State 149.5 68 4 222.8 90 6 372.3 83 5 2011 Midwestern State 112.8 21 3 244.6 124 2 357.4 64 3 2010 Midwestern State 120.5 35 3 252.1 136 10 372.6 89 4 2009 Midwestern State 110.8 30 6 201.8 68 1 312.5 39 2 2008 Midwestern State 86.2 11 3 232.2 118 6 322.4 48 3 * Average Yards Per Game Numbers under NCAA II and LSC represent national and conference ratings. 1 The 2020 season delayed to a shortened schedule played in the spring of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. No official LSC games were played.

Kirk Bryant joined the Midwestern State coaching staff in 2025 after working three seasons as a senior offensive analyst at Texas Tech. Bryant assisted offensive coordinator Zach Kittley with the quarterbacks as well as scouting the opponent for the Red Raiders. Bryant was the inside receivers coach and recruiting coach at Austin Peay for two seasons before joining the staff at Texas Tech.   Bryant also spent four years at Baylor. He was an offensive graduate assistant with the running backs and wide receiver groups for the 2017-18 seasons before moving to a quality control role with the Bears' quarterbacks for the 2019-20 campaigns. East Texas Baptist featured the top-ranked scoring offense in Division III while Bryant was there for a season. As the wide receivers coach and operations director, Bryant worked with a pair of All-American Southwest Conference selections in Chase Sojka (first team) and Richard Johnson (second team). The duo combined for almost 2,000 receiving yards that season with Sojka leading the team with 83 receptions for 1,074 yards, while Johnson posted 911 yards through the air on 52 catches. Bryant began his coaching career as the wide receivers coach for his alma mater, Mississippi College, in 2015.  Bryant earned a master’s degree in sports management from Baylor in 2019. Bryant’s father retired as the superintendent of Lubbock-Cooper ISD at the end of June 2025.  

Cedric Leonard returned to Midwestern State in 2024 as the defensive line coach under head coach Rich Renner, who was the defensive coordinator when Leonard helped the Mustangs win the Lone Star Conference championship in 2017 as a graduate assistant.  Leonard was the defensive line coach and diversity coordinator at Oklahoma Baptist for five seasons. Leonard recruited talent that helped the Bison reach the postseason for the first time in school history in 2021, when they beat UT Permian Basin in the Heritage Bowl, 24-21. Leonard served as a mentor to the athletes while leading a defensive line that set numerous school records, including most sacks and most tackles for loss. In 2023, Leonard coached defensive lineman Brett Karhu, who set school records and led the GAC with 11.5 sacks and 18.5 sacks for loss. Karhu was fourth in the nation in sacks and top 10 in tackles for loss. Karhu was OBU’s first All-American since becoming an NCAA Division II school. The Bison were top five in total defense among Division II schools and among the best in pass defense, allowing just 146.3 yards per game through the air. In 2021, OBU led the Great American Conference with 34 sacks and 79 tackles for loss.  He guided All-GAC defensive tackle Robert Lolofie, who recorded nine sacks to lead the league.  Leonard was selected as a Minority Rising Star by the American Football Coaches Association as he helped grow the culture at OBU. He also had a positive influence on student athletes throughout the campus. Leonard was a defensive lineman with Troy before transferring to North Alabama. Leonard played for legendary head coach Bobby Wallace, who led North Alabama to three consecutive national championships from 1993-95. Leonard earned All-State honorable mention as a senior defensive lineman at St. Jude High School in Montgomery, Alabama, where he was a team captain and also lettered in track and field.  Leonard is the son of Cedric D. Leonard and Tushima Barnette and has two sisters.  

Tyler Preston took over as the offensive line coach at Midwestern State in 2025 after two seasons as an assistant offensive line coach at UT San Antonio.  Preston spearheaded the recruitment of offensive linemen and was instrumental in landing three All-Conference players and two of the highest-ranked recruits in school history.   Before joining the staff at UTSA, Preston was an assistant offensive line coach at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he managed day-to-day logistics of and operational duties for the offensive line. He led offensive line film breakdowns while contributing to in-depth game planning and tactical adjustments. For three seasons, Preston worked as the offensive line coach at Giddings High School, where he was also head of the history department as well as the strength and conditioning coordinator.  Preston worked as the freshman offensive coordinator at Giddings and was an assistant for track & field as well as powerlifting.  Preston was a team captain and won a Southland Conference Championship in 2018 while playing at Incarnate Word – where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and History with a minor in education. Preston was a recipient of the Iron Cardinal Award at Incarnate Word. The award recognizes leadership and hard work. Preston received a masters degree in education leadership while at UT San Antonio.   

Prior to joining the Midwestern State coaching staff in 2025, Domonique Young was the wide receivers coach at Stetson for two seasons under head coach Brian Young. Young began his coaching career at Trinity Christian Academy, where he served as a wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator. While there, he helped lead the school to the FHSAA 3A State Championship in 2020.  Young was on the staff at West Virginia from 2022 to 2023. As the wide receiver and tight end graduate assistant, he worked closely with players at the Division I collegiate level. As a wide receiver at Cerritos College, he was the all-time reception and yards leader in the history of the program and received All-State, Region, and National Northern honors, and he was selected as the  Team Offensive MVP. He was a two-time Bowl winner at Cerritos in 2013 and 2014. Young played two seasons at Purdue and made 50 catches for 614 yards and two touchdowns. Young averaged 12.3 yards per catch with the Boilermakers and signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets in 2017.  Young played in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also played Arena Football for the Columbus Destroyers, and he spent a season playing in Germany with the Lubeck Cougars.   

Drew Amsler joined the staff prior to the 2025 season after working two seasons as an assistant on the staff at North Texas. Amsler worked closely with the offensive coaches at North Texas, assisting them with daily tasks, including tagging film from other teams, tagging film from practices and games, making cut-ups of the next teams on the schedule, and creating tips & reminders sheets for running backs prior to the game. Amsler worked as an offensive assistant at Guyer High School in Denton, Texas, and Westlake High School in Austin, Texas.  Amsler earned a master’s degree at North Texas in interdisciplinary studies and a bachelor’s degree in recreation, event and sport management.

Daniel Hunter joined the Midwestern State coaching staff prior to the 2025 season after four seasons on the staff at Western New Mexico. During his time at Western New Mexico, Hunter worked as the running backs coach, tight ends coach and assistant offensive line coach. He was also a film and video coordinator at WNMU. Hunter coached 2024 All-Lone Star Conference honorable mention running back Jamon Chambers, 2023 All-Lone Star Conference honorable mention offensive lineman Kiu Teu, and 2021 All-Lone Star Conference honorable mention running back Bryce Coleman. During his football career, he played defensive end, outside linebacker, tight end, running back and wide receiver. Hunter grew up in San Antonio, and his brother served in the 1st Calvary from 1999-2007. His brother served in the Iraq War from 2003-2007 and fought in what is known as "Black Sunday." His brother passed away on July 22nd, 2007, after losing a hard-fought battle with PTSD. Hunter credits his older brother for introducing him to football. Hunter called his brother every Monday while he was in Iraq and talked to him about his favorite NFL team — the Baltimore Ravens. Hunter enjoys the outdoors and working on automobiles. He is a Star Wars enthusiast.