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• Enters the 2024 season as head coach with a mark of 59-17 overall
• Guided the Bearcats to the program's 26th overall and 18th consecutive NCAA Div. II playoff appearance in 2022
• Named the 20th head coach of Northwest football on Dec. 19, 2016
• Served six seasons as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach
• Joined the staff in 2004 as the defensive line and special teams coordinator.
• 2014 and 2015 ProGrass Division II Coordinator of the Year
• Team has won 10 MIAA titles, four NCAA titles and appeared in eight national championship games since 2004.
• Since arriving at Northwest, the Bearcats have gone 210-36 overall and 162-20 in MIAA games.
• Earned his master's degree from Northwest in 1996.
Richard Wright was named head coach at Northwest Missouri on Dec. 19, 2016. He arrived at Northwest in 2004 as the defensive line coach and coordinator of special teams. In 2011, Wright was named defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Northwest produced a trio of first-team all-MIAA picks in 2023 led by running back Jay Harris, defensive lineman Jake Fisher and defensive back Cahleel Smith. Harris was the only NCAA running back in the nation to run for 100 or more yards in every game during the 2023 season. Fisher ranked second in the MIAA in tackles-for-loss, while Smith garnered his third straight first-team all-league status.
Northwest extended its streak of consecutive NCAA Playoff appearances to 18 in a row in 2022. Wright help guide the Bearcats to a 9-2 mark in MIAA play. Northwest secured a 47-17 thumping of No. 3-ranked Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark., in the opening round of the 2022 NCAA Playoffs.
For the seventh time in Wright's coaching tenure he had one of his defensive lineman named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year as Elijah Green took home that crown in 2022.
Wright led the Bearcats to their 31st MIAA regular season crown in 2021. It was the 21st outright MIAA title for the Bearcats and first outright title since 2016. The Bearcats have claimed seven of the last nine MIAA crowns.
Following the 2021 season, the Bearcat football team had five players either drafted or signed to free agent deals by NFL teams. Roberts was drafted by the Patriots while Kaden Davis (Denver Broncos), Tanner Owen (Buffalo Bills), Simon Mathiesen (Dallas Cowboys), Gabe Bautz (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
In 2021, Northwest also earned its 25th berth into the NCAA Division II playoffs. Northwest has reached the NCAA playoffs in 17 consecutive seasons. Northwest notched playoff wins over Central Washington (50-21) and at Harding (28-9). The home playoff win over Central Washington was the 25th consecutive home playoff victory for the Bearcats.
Senior defensive lineman Sam Roberts claimed the Cliff Harris Award, which is given to the nation's best small college defensive play. Roberts also earned the MIAA's Defensive Player of the Year Award. Roberts became the seventh Northwest football player to be selected in the NFL Draft. The New England Patriots chose Roberts in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Offensively, senior running back Al McKeller placed third overall in the final Harlon Hill Trophy Award voting.
Northwest produced six first-team all-MIAA picks in 2021 led by Roberts, McKeller along with Tanner Owen, Zach Howard, Jackson Barnes and Cahleel Smith.
Wright led the Bearcats to the program's 30th MIAA title in 2019. Northwest collected its 49th and 50th Division II playoff victories in 2019 with a 7-6 win over Harding and a 63-7 triumph over Lindenwood. Northwest is the first program in Division II history to record 50 playoff victories. The Bearcats finished the 2019 season ranked No. 7 in the final AFCA Top 25 Poll.
The 2019 Bearcats had five first-team all-MIAA selections in Spencer Phillips, Tanner Owen and Blake Bayer. Phillips was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year.
He joined elite company with H.F. Lawrence and Mel Tjeerdsma as the only head coaches in Northwest history to increase their win totals in each of their first three seasons. Wright guided Northwest to nine wins in 2017, 10 wins in 2018 and the Bearcats tallied 12 victories in 2019. H.F. Lawrence went from three wins in 1923 to six wins in 1924 to seven wins in 1925. Mel Tjeerdsma had zero wins in 1994 before upping his win total to six in 1995. Tjeerdsma then tallied 11 wins in 1996.
Wright guided the Bearcats to the playoffs of the 23rd time in program history (the most in NCAA Div. II football) in 2018. The Bearcats scored a 42-17 road victory over Grand Valley State in the first round to give Northwest its 48th all-time playoff triumph - also the most wins in NCAA Div. II playoff history). Northwest captured its 29th MIAA regular season title in 2018.
The 2018 Bearcats had five first-team all-MIAA selections in Austen Eskew, Zach Flott, Anthony Lane, Tanner Owen and Sam Roberts. Braden Wright was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year.
Northwest ranked No. 6 in the nation in scoring defense (14.6 ppg) and No. 7 in rushing defense (89.1 yards/game). Northwest had a streak of 19 straight games without giving up a rushing touchdown that stretched from the 2016 season into the 2018 campaign. All four starters on the defensive line earned all-MIAA honors - Austen Eskew (first team), Sam Roberts (first team), Mike Ehlke (honorable mention) and Spencer Phillips (honorable mention).
The Northwest defense was dominating in 2017. The Bearcats ranked first in the nation in scoring defense (9.3 ppg), total defense (212.8 yards/game), blocked punts (7) and third down conversion defense (19.9 percent).
Northwest limited the opposition to 62.0 yards per game on the ground. The Bearcat defense did not allow a rushing touchdown in 2017. In fact, Northwest was the only NCAA school to not allow a rushing touchdown all of 2017 - including FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III. The Northwest defense had three players named to the All-MIAA First Team in defensive lineman Austin Eskew, linebacker Ben Althoff and defensive back Marcus Jones.
Jones earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association at the conclusion of the 2017 campaign. Jones tied a career-high with 15 passes defended in 2017, leading one of the nation's top ranked defenses. He becomes the 16th individual to earn AFCA All-America honors in Northwest history. In 12 games at cornerback, Jones recorded 33 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. He had one forced fumble and also recorded an interception.
In 2016, Northwest's defense led the nation in total yards (240.9), rushing yards (67.7), scoring (12.0) and blocked kicks (13). Four Bearcats earned first-team All-MIAA honors and four earned All-America honors. On five occasions, the Northwest defense held opponents under 200 yards of total offense and 12 times held rushing attacks under 100 yards. The Bearcats' four playoff opponents averaged just 54.7 rushing yards, 170.5 passing yards, 225.5 total yards and 9.0 points per game.
The Bearcats' 2015 national championship featured one of the most well rounded defensive units in history. Northwest led the nation in six categories including total defense, scoring defense, team sacks, rushing defense, team passing efficiency defense and third-down conversion percentage defense. The team finished atop the MIAA in 15 defensive categories as well, leading to six first-team All-MIAA selections. Collin Bevins earned the third-consecutive MIAA Defensive Player of the Year award for the Bearcats, setting school records in sacks (15.5) and tackles for loss (26.5).
One of the most dominant defenses at any level of football could be found under Wright in 2014. The Bearcats led the nation in total defense and were ranked second in rushing defense, team pass efficiency defense and third down conversion defense. Northwest ranked third in first down defense, fourth in passing yards allowed and fifth in scoring defense. Five Bearcat defensive players earned first team All-MIAA honors including Matt Longarcre who was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
In 2013, Wright’s defense was ranked ninth in the NCAA in total defense, allowing just 292.5 yards per game. The Bearcat defense led the MIAA defensively in pass yards allowed, sacks, pass efficiency defense, turnovers gained, third down percentage defense, blocked kicks, blocked punts and total defense.
The 2012 Bearcat defense was nothing short of spectacular, ranking among the nation’s elite in scoring defense (second), turnover margin (third), pass efficiency defense (seventh), pass defense (12th) and total defense (17th).
In his first season as the defensive coordinator, Josh Lorenson became the 10th All-America defensive lineman to play under Wright. The 2011 season also saw his defensive unit hold opponents under 100 yards rushing four times and under 100 yards passing three times.
Northwest tied for the most sacks in the nation in 2009 when 19 Bearcats combined for 48 sacks. Former player and current graduate assistant Kendall Wright enjoyed one of the most decorated seasons as a return specialist in 2008, earning All-America accolades.
Three former players have been on NFL rosters, Longacre, Dave Tollefson and Steve Williams. Each have spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots. Tollefson is a two-time Super Bowl Champion earning his first ring with the New York Giants in 2007 and again following the 2011 season.
Wright began coaching during the 1991 season at Cortland State before spending time at Dana College (Neb.) from 1993-94. Covering several facets of coaching, Wright has been an offensive coordinator, linebackers coach, wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator.
A native of Hamilton, N.Y., Wright earned his bachelor’s degree at Dana College in 1995 and his master’s at Northwest in 1996. Wright resides in Maryville with his wife, Sarah, who is also a Northwest alum, and their daughters, Grace and Kate.
