Northern Arizona University Men's Football

Brian Wright was named Northern Arizona's 31st head football coach on December 3, 2023. The 2026 season will be his third at the helm. In his first two seasons, Wright has guided the Lumberjacks to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since NAU posted four straight winning seasons from 2012-15. NAU's 15 victories over the last two seasons are the program's most since 2013-14. A total of 19 Lumberjacks have combined for 23 All-Conference honors in his first two seasons, including eight first team All-Big Sky honorees. Seven different Lumberjacks have earned All-American honors, including punter Ben D'Aquila, who became NAU's first First Team All-American by The Associated Press in five seasons in 2025. The Lumberjacks finished the 2025 season with a 7-5 record and were nationally-ranked in the FCS Top 25 for all but one week. Optimism was high for Wright's second season as NAU was ranked in the preseason for the first time since 2016. The Lumberjacks peaked at No. 13, their highest since 2013. The 2025 season brought a number of historic individual performances, starting with D'Aquila, who set the all-time Big Sky and NAU career marks for punt average. Kolbe Katsis, a first team All-Big Sky honoree at both wide receiver and kick returner, earned All-American honors after ranking eighth in the FCS in all-purpose yards and in the top 12 nationally in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Ty Pennington also inserted his name among NAU's top 10 single-season lists in passing yards, total offense and completions. In his first season in 2024, Wright guided the Lumberjacks to their first 8-win season since 2013 and the program's first FCS Playoff appearance since 2017. NAU, which finished the season at 8-5, concluded the season ranked No. 22 in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and FCS Coaches Poll. The Lumberjacks were nationally-ranked for the first time since 2018. The Lumberjacks tied for third in the Big Sky with a 6-2 league mark and posted a five-game winning streak to close the regular season. Wright also led NAU to a perfect 5-0 record in the Walkup Skydome, just the program's third all-time unbeaten home record. Under Wright’s guidance, Pennington blossomed as the Lumberjacks' starting quarterback and earned Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. A total of 13 total Lumberjacks earned All-Conference honors, tying the 1997 squad for the second-most All-Conference selections in program history.   Wright joined NAU from Pittsburg State University where he served as head coach from 2020-23. A proven winner, Wright guided Pitt State to consecutive Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championships, going 23-3 over his final two seasons. The 2022 MIAA Conference Coach of the Year, Wright owned an overall record of 33-8 (.805) during his time at Pitt State with two NCAA Division II playoff appearances. Wright brought a wealth of experience with him to Flagstaff from Toledo, Montana State and Youngstown State. Wright was part of the 1997 Youngstown State FCS National Championship squad as a graduate assistant and assistant wide receivers coach. He also had an interim head coaching stop at Florida Atlantic where he guided the Owls to a 4-0 record, outscoring opponents 151-40 during his interim tenure while reaching bowl eligibility. Prior to Pitt State, Wright spent four seasons at Toledo as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. His high-powered offense led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in total offense and scoring offense in 2017, ranking 19th and 14th in the country, respectively. In 2017 he was a Broyles Award nominee, given to the nation's top assistant coach, while helping lead the Rockets to a MAC title after finishing the year 10-3. During his time at Toledo, the Rockets were one of seven FBS programs to finish in the top-25 in scoring offense in three-straight seasons.   While at Florida Atlantic, he served in several different roles from 2012-15 as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. As interim head coach, he helped the Owls improve from a 2-6 overall record to 6-6 in one season and coached six players to NFL contracts and the 2013 C-USA Newcomer of the Year in quarterback Jaquez Johnson.   Wright is no stranger to the Big Sky Conference having spent two seasons at Montana State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He found success during his time as a Bobcat, winning two Big Sky titles in 2010 and 2011 and qualifying for the FCS playoffs both years. Wright ran a potent offense that led the Big Sky and ranked 10th nationally in 2011 in total offense and scoring offense with the help of seven All-Big Sky Conference honorees that season.   When Wright arrived at MSU in 2010, he helped improve the team record from 7-4 to 9-3 on the back of the Big Sky's leading, and fourth-best nationally, total offense. The 2010 Bobcat squad ranked in the top-10 in eight national offensive statistical categories. Wright coached Denarius McGhee to Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors as McGhee was also a Walter Payton Award candidate.   Wright spent the bulk of his early career at Youngstown State serving in several roles, including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for four seasons. Career highlights at YSU include a 2006 Gateway Conference Championship that was followed by an FCS Semifinal appearance. He coached seven All-Gateway Conference players, two All-Americans, one Walter Payton Award finalist and one Gateway Conference Player of the Year during his time with the Penguins.   He began his coaching career at Walsh University where he received his Master of Arts degree in education. He was a two-time football captain at the College of Wooster where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics in 1994. Wright is a native of Wooster, Ohio, and he and his wife Laura have three children Jake, Marielle and Joseph. Head Coach Brian Wright's Coaching Resume   2024-Present Northern Arizona - Head Coach 2020-23 Pittsburg State - Head Coach 2016-19 Toledo - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2014-15 Florida Atlantic - Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2013 Florida Atlantic - Interim Head Coach (last four games) 2012-13 Florida Atlantic - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2010-11 Montana State - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2005-09 Youngstown State - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 2004-07 Youngstown State - Recruiting Coordinator 2003 Youngstown State - Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers 2001-02 Youngstown State - Quarterbacks 2000 Walsh - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks 1999 Walsh - Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Co-Special Teams Coordinator 1998 Walsh - Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers 1997 Youngstown State - Graduate Assistant 1995-96 Walsh - Graduate Assistant

Nick Fett joined the Lumberjacks in December 2023 and begins his third season on staff in 2025 as Tight Ends Coach. Following the departure of All-American Bryzai White, Fett coached a young tight end group in 2025 and led them to success. The unit was led by a pair of freshmen beginning with Jeter Purdy, who earned Freshman All-American honors from FCS Football Central and Stats Perform, and finished the season third on the team with 415 receiving yards. Hayden Daugherty also started eight games as a true freshman and developed as both a blocker in the run game and a receiving threat over the course of the season. With Fett's guidance, Bryzai White was named a unanimous All-Big Sky First Team selection in 2024. White, who earned two Second Team All-American honors (The Associated Press, FCS Coaches), was the first NAU tight end since 2013 season and first offensive player in general since 2019 to earn a spot on the All-Big Sky First Team. White became just the third tight end in program history to earn AP honors, joining Shawn Collins (1987, 1988) and Kelly Schultz (1972). Fett came to NAU after spending four seasons at Pittsburg State with current NAU head coach Brian Wright. Fett was an offensive graduate assistant during his first two years with the Gorillas.   Fett coached a first-team All-MIAA and NCAA Division II All-America performer in tight end Devon Garrison in 2022.   Prior to Pitt State, Fett was an assistant coach at Greene County High School in Jefferson, Iowa, during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.   Fett earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior offensive lineman at Iowa State University in 2016. He began his career with the Cyclones as a walk-on before eventually earning a scholarship at ISU. Fett received the Arthur Floyd Scott Award as the team's top offensive lineman his senior season. Following his senior season, Fett signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.   A native of Audubon, Iowa, Fett earned a bachelor’s of science degree in ag education from Iowa State in December 2019.

Preston Mays was hired as NAU's running backs coach in January 2026 and enters his first season on the Lumberjack Football coaching staff. Mays arrives in Flagstaff following six years at the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado. Originally hired as running backs coach in 2019, Mays was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2021. In his four seasons as offensive coordinator, the team averaged 35 points per game.   While at the Air Force Academy Prep, Mays coached four players who would go on to play for the Air Force Academy including quarterbacks Quentin Hayes and John Busha, running back Lee Eldridge III and running back/linebacker Johnathan Youngblood.   Mays also has extensive high school coaching experience, including serving as head coach of the Youngstown East High School varsity team in Youngstown, Ohio from 2013-15.   Mays was a standout running back at Youngstown State from 2000-02 and was inducted into the Youngstown State Hall of Fame in 2012. Mays was a second team All-American as a senior in 2002 and two-time Missouri Valley Football Conference first team selection. The first Youngstown State player to be named MVFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2001, Mays rushed for 3,511 yards on 666 carries and scored 42 rushing touchdowns during an honorable mention All-American season. His final two seasons overlapped with current NAU head coach Brian Wright, who coached Youngstown State’s quarterbacks from 2001-02. Mays began his collegiate career at Cincinnati where he spent the 1998 and 1999 campaigns. He had a solid year as a redshirt freshman in 1999, rushing for 293 yards and two touchdowns on 67 carries in 11 games. A graduate of Youngstown State with a degree in Computer Information Systems, Mays was a second-team All-Ohio selection during his senior season at East High School. 

Rodney Brown was elevated to Pass Game Coordinator and Defensive Backfield Coach in 2025 and enters his third season on staff at NAU. Brown coached Quentin Moten to All-Big Sky First Team honors and All-American accolades by FCS Football Central (Third Team) and The Associated Press (Honorable Mention) in 2025. Moten ranked in the top 20 in the FCS with four interceptions and 13 passes defended in his lone season as a Lumberjack. Under Brown's guidance, Jaylan Wesley also racked up four interceptions, giving NAU two players with at least four interceptions in a season for the first time in 17 years. In Brown's first season at NAU, Alex McLaughlin was a unanimous All-Big Sky First Team selection, while DJ VanHook and Zach Lewis were named to the second team. The Lumberjacks ranked 12th in the FCS with 15 interceptions and 18th with 176.7 passing yards allowed, the latter of which led the Big Sky Conference. His unit shined in Week 2 against Arizona when it held an explosive Wildcats offense to 173 passing yards. His defensive backs shut down Tetairoa McMillan, a consensus All-American and eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, to a career-low 13 yards receiving. Brown arrived at NAU from Angelo State, where he served as defensive backs coach under current NAU defensive coordinator Adam Clark. Brown also has served as defensive backs coach at Virginia Union University (2022-23), cornerbacks graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech (2021) and cornerbacks coach at Lamar (2020). A native of Mayo, Fla., Brown played cornerback at Webber International University. Following his playing career, he started his coaching career at his alma mater as secondary coach from 2017-19.

Max Silver was named linebackers coach and run game coordinator in March 2026. Silver arrived in Flagstaff following three seasons at Arizona State. Silver spent his final two seasons as assistant linebackers coach after being initially hired as the Sun Devils' assistant defensive line coach. Silver was on the staff that led Arizona State to the Big 12 Championship in 2024 and a Peach Bowl berth – site of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.   In his role, Silver served a critical gameday role in communicating fundamental schemes with the defensive coordinator, in addition to offensive line blocking scheme and defensive line and linebacker technique. On a weekly basis, Silver assisted in defensive game planning and preparation and planned and directed offensive scout meetings while running the scout team.   Silver was instrumental in coaching five Sun Devils to all-conference honors in his three seasons in Tempe.   Prior to Arizona State, Silver spent two seasons as a graduate assistant, helping coach the defensive line, at Washington State from 2021-22. During his two seasons at Pullman, he was part of two bowl teams.   Silver joined Washington State following three seasons on the defensive staff at Eastern New Mexico where he served as the linebackers and defensive line coach. During the 2019 season, Eastern New Mexico won the Heritage Bowl, marking the first bowl win in program history, while Silver helped coach a defensive unit that ranked fourth in the Lone Star Conference in total defense and sacks. Eastern New Mexico's disruptive defense was led by Mazin Richards, who led the conference with 12.5 sacks and was named a D2CCA Third Team All-Super Region Four selection under Silver's tutelage.   Silver's coaching career began at Fullerton College in 2017. As linebackers coach, he helped the program to an undefeated 13-0 season and a CCCAA National Championship.   The Orange, Calif. native played two seasons of collegiate football – one each at Trinity International University and East Los Angeles College. He earned his bachelor's degree from Hawai'i in 2015 and his master's degree from Eastern New Mexico in 2020.

Kendall Coleman begins his first season on the NAU coaching staff in 2026. Coleman was hired in January 2026 as defensive line coach. Coleman coached the defensive line at Texas A&M-Kingsville following four seasons at his alma mater, Syracuse. During the 2025 season, Coleman coached Kerry North and Doug Brooks to all-conference honorable mention honors in the Lone Star Conference. The all-conference duo combined for 69 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks.   Coleman began his coaching career at Syracuse where he spent two seasons as an offensive graduate assistant and two seasons as a defensive analyst from 2021-2024. The Orange went to three bowl games during his four seasons on the staff.   The Indianapolis, Ind. native starred at Syracuse, where he started 43 games during his collegiate playing career. A four-year starter at defensive end, Coleman logged 137 tackles, 26.5 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 sacks. Coleman, a two-time all-conference player, was a team captain in his final season in 2019 and was the recipient of the Bill Horr Award as Syracuse’s most valuable player. He tied the Syracuse bowl record with three sacks in the 2018 Camping World Bowl. Coleman competed in the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl and after attending the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Coleman signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He graduated from Syracuse with a degree in human development and family science.  

Tim Roschmann was elevated to NAU Football's General Manager in January 2026 after serving as Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting since joining the staff in April 2024. Roschmann returns for his second season overseeing the Lumberjacks’ recruiting efforts and roster construction. In his first spring, the Lumberjacks added Second Team All-Big Sky cornerback DJ VanHook. In the fall, the Lumberjacks signed the No. 5 high school recruiting class in the FCS according to 247Sports. This class included the No. 1 and No. 3 highest ranked recruits in NAU history. In the transfer portal, the Lumberjacks landed 12 transfers in January 2025. Roschmann is no stranger to the state of Arizona, as he previously served as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Liberty High School before heading north to Flagstaff. At Liberty, Roschmann educated families and players on the recruiting process while providing feedback, support and advice to high school athletes.   Prior to Liberty, Roschmann held the same role for a year at Millennium High School in the Phoenix West Valley.   Roschmann began his coaching career at his alma mater, Arizona State, where he was a senior offensive recruiting graduate assistant. There, he oversaw student assistants, worked with ARMS recruiting software and planned visits for potential student-athletes. After his time in Tempe, Roschmann moved on to New Mexico where he served as the team’s Director of Player Personnel in 2020.   Roschmann earned three degrees at Arizona State, including his bachelor’s degrees in sports business and history and his master’s degree in history.

James Foran is entering his 15th season with the Northern Arizona football program as Director of Football Technology. Foran is responsible for all technology utilized by the Lumberjack football program. This includes the acquisition of video of all practices and games, as well as opponent games. He organizes and manages the Catapult Thunder system used for in-house and cloud-based tools used by the coaching staff in game strategy preparation and by the players for analyzing practices and games. In 2024, he also oversaw the installation and implementation of the GameStrat system for the viewing of in game video by the football program. Foran is also responsible for training and supervising a staff of student assistants to shoot all football practices and games, along with men’s and women’s basketball home games as well as soccer home matches. Prior to his current role at Northern Arizona, Foran served as the student video coordinator at SUNY-Cortland from 2001-05, before moving to Marshall University as a graduate assistant. He was then football video coordinator at Furman from 2007-09. While at Cortland, Foran also served as a camp video intern for the Buffalo Bills prior to the 2004 & 05 seasons. Foran is a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Collegiate Sports Video Association (CSVA), where he has served as the FCS/At Large executive representative for the organization since 2020 (overseeing programs at the FCS, D2, D3, JuCo, Canadian and High School levels). CSVA is the national association of Video Coordinators, providing development, training, dialogue and a platform to elevate the role of the Video Coordinator. After the 2014 and 2023 seasons, he was named the FCS Video Coordinator of the Year by his peers in the CSVA, while being a finalist for the award several other times before and since. A native of Hempstead, N.Y., Foran earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management from SUNY-Cortland in 2005.

Bryan Larson will serve as the Lumberjacks' Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach in 2026, his third season at NAU. Larson initially joined the Lumberjacks in December 2023 as Offensive Line Coach before being promoted to Offensive Coordinator prior to the 2025 season. Larson's offense was one of the best in the FCS, ranking 29th in scoring offense (31.7) and 31st in total offense (409.5) - the program's highest marks since 2019. The Lumberjacks also led the Big Sky in fewest turnovers (10) and time of possession (31:43), which ranked 10th and 17th respectively nationally. Led by Ty Pennington, NAU's passing attack saw a significant jump from year-to-year, ranking 14th in the nation with 264.7 yards through the air per game. Larson's offensive line also helped NAU's ground game record 27 rushing touchdowns, the most by the program since 1996. He coached Jeremiah Katt and Ethan Kramer to the All-Big Sky Second Team as part of an offensive line unit that started five seniors across the line for much of the season. In 2024, Larson's offensive line unit was led by Jonny Bottorff, who claimed Second Team All-Big Sky honors. His unit paved the way for 2,593 rushing yards in his first season. Larson also oversaw the development of multiple true freshmen, who saw game action along NAU's offensive line. Prior to NAU, Larson spent four seasons at Pittsburg State with current NAU head coach Brian Wright.   Larson’s offensive line helped the Gorillas average 32.1 points and 373.8 total yards per game in 2022. In 2021, Pitt State led the MIAA in fewest sacks allowed (12). Larson was a graduate assistant coach at Toledo during the 2019 season. He primarily worked with the offensive line during his time with the Rockets. An offensive lineman at Iowa State University from 2013-17, he began his career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship and lettering as a senior. Larson earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Iowa State in 2017. He served the ISU program as a strength & conditioning intern in 2017 and as an offensive line student assistant in 2018.   Larson earned All-State honors as a senior at Humboldt (Iowa) High School in 2012. He also lettered in basketball and track.

Trenton Greene enters his first season as NAU's Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach in 2026. Greene was hired in January 2026 and arrives in Flagstaff after a season at Montana State as cornerbacks coach. During his lone season in Bozeman, Greene was part of a defensive staff that helped the Bobcats win the program’s first national championship since 1984. His cornerbacks were part of a unit that led the Big Sky in scoring defense (19.0) and passing efficiency defense (118.11), both of which ranked in the top 15 in the FCS. The Bobcats also allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game (210.0) in the Big Sky. Greene brings a well-versed defensive coaching background to his first coordinator role. Prior to coaching the corners at Montana State, Greene was the safeties coach at Missouri Southern State in 2024 and began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant working with the linebackers at Syracuse from 2017-19. Greene also has coaching stops as a defensive analyst at Arizona State (2023) and Washington State (2022) and quality control coach at Nevada in 2021. During his playing career, Greene was a two-time Second Team All-MAC linebacker as a junior and senior at Bowling Green. A team captain in 2016, Green had a team-high 111 tackles and ranked fourth in the MAC and 28th nationally. He had 8.5 tackles-for-loss and four sacks that season, and finished his career with 248 total tackles. He recorded 127 tackles in 2015, helping the Falcons to the MAC title. Greene earned first team all-state honors at Monsignor Edwards Pace High School in Miami as a senior, when he led Dade County in tackles, and was a two-time team captain. Originally from Miami Gardens, Fla., Greene graduated from Bowling Green in 2016 with a degree in Liberal Studies, and received his master's from Syracuse in Instructional Design, Development, and Implementation. 

Aman Anand enters his first season as Special Teams Coordinator in 2026. Hired in January 2026, this marks Anand's second stint in Flagstaff. Anand previously served as a graduate assistant for the Lumberjacks in 2015. During his first stint at NAU, Anand worked with the defensive line, helping Zach McDonnell earn All-Big Sky recognition that season. Anand returned to Flagstaff and spending the 2025 season at LSU as the Tigers' senior special teams analyst. LSU placed placekicker Damian Ramos and punter Grant Chadwick on the All-SEC Third Team in 2025. Ramos broke LSU’s all-time record for field goals and points scored and Chadwick finished second in the SEC in punt average. Additionally, LSU ranked 18th in the FBS in kick return average (24.4) as a team. Prior to LSU, Anand spent a season at Grambling State as special teams coordinator. Grambling State led the SWAC in kickoffs and returned both a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. Grambling State was also second in the FCS in blocked punts and blocked kicks. Anand spent the 2023 season as running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Texas Southern, where his special teams unit ranked in the top 25 of the FCS in kickoff and punt returns. Additionally in his one year at Texas Southern, La’Darius Owens led the SWAC in rushing and ranked second in the FCS with 1,369 yards and 11 touchdowns. Anand spent three seasons (2020-22) with Baylor as a special teams quality control coach. In 2022, he was recognized for his on-field efforts by being selected to the Minority Watch List/Rising Stars by Footballscoop.com. He was also part of Baylor's coaching staff that led the Bears to the 2021 Big 12 Championship and Baylor's first win in a New Year's Day Bowl (Sugar Bowl) since the 1950s. Anand joined the Baylor staff following one season in a similar role at Penn State. While at Penn State, he helped the team lead the Big Ten in blocked kicks and rank seventh in kickoff return defense. Additionally, he completed the Bill Walsh Minority Internship with the Chicago Bears. His early coaching experience includes four seasons as a graduate assistant with time at Memphis (2018), Utah State (2016-17) and NAU (2015). Anand also spent three years (2012-14) as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and began his collegiate coaching career at Old Dominion in 2011. A native of Falls Church, Va., Anand received his undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary sciences at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and his master’s in educational leadership at NAU.  

Jerry DiMinno joined the NAU Football staff in December 2023 as Wide Receivers Coach and Passing Game Coordinator. The 2025 season will be his third at NAU. Kolbe Katsis was one of the best wide receivers in the country in 2025 under DiMinno's direction, ranking eighth in the FCS in all-purpose yards and in the top 12 nationally in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He became the first Lumberjack receiver to record both 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in the same season since 2019, and earned All-American honors as well as First Team All-Big Sky accolades as both a receiver and kick returner. NAU's passing game also saw a significant jump and ranked 14th in the FCS in passing yards per game (264.7). DiMinno's passing attack also ranked 27th in efficiency (146.57). DiMinno’s pass catchers were playmakers for quarterback Ty Pennington in 2024 with Pennington selected as the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. Wide receiver and punt returner, Isaiah Eastman, earned the first of two All-Big Sky Honorable Mention honors and DiMinno guided three receivers to over 400 receiving yards on the year.  DiMinno also previously coached under current NAU head coach Brian Wright at Pittsburg State. In his first two years with the Gorillas, DiMinno served as tight ends coach. In 2022, the Gorillas ranked second in the MIAA in passing touchdowns (29). DiMinno got his coaching start at Toledo as a student assistant working with the quarterbacks from 2013-16. He elevated to graduate assistant in 2017 and 2018, working with wide receivers in 2017 and quarterbacks in 2018. During the 2017 season, Toledo claimed the Mid-American Conference title. He then served as assistant recruiting coordinator in 2019. A native of Canton, Ohio, DiMinno graduated from Toledo in 2017 with a degree in sports administration.