• Joined coaching staff in January 2015.
• Named Special Teams Coordinator in 2019
• Former Northwest All-MIAA performer and team captain from 2005-08.
• Worked as a graduate assistant at Northwest from 2009-10.
Former Northwest Missouri State captain and All-MIAA selection Brandon Clayton joined the Bearcat coaching staff in January 2015. He had previously spent four years at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, as an assistant coach.
Clayton serves as the defensive backs coach as well as special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.
In 2022, he coaches defensive back Cahleel Smith to his second straight first-team all-MIAA accolade. Redshirt freshman Shane Fredrickson also gained honorable mention all-MIAA status.
Under Clayton's leadership in 2019, four defensive backs earned all-MIAA status. Blake Bayer (first team), Trey Washington (third team), Chama Pierre (honorable mention) and Jacob Gassman (honorable mention) helped Northwest to the program's 30th MIAA regular season and a No. 7 final national ranking. Northwest led the MIAA in interceptions (24) and passing efficiency defense (101.96). Washington led the league with 15 passes defensed.
Clayton guided defensive back Anthony Lane to first-team all-MIAA honors and Jack Richards to second-team all-league status in 2018. Northwest ranked No. 6 in the nation in scoring defense (14.6 ppg) and No. 7 in rushing defense (89.1 yards/game).
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 last season - including FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III. The Northwest defense had three players named to the All-MIAA First Team including defensive back Marcus Jones.
Jones earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association. 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, the Bearcat secondary boasted five All-MIAA honorees, headlined by All-America senior Kevin Berg. Anthony Lane was a second team honoree and Edward Richey was named third team. Safety Jack Young and corner Marcus Jones were honorable mention. Allowing just 173.2 yards through the air each game, the secondary ranked 16th nationally on the nation's top ranked scoring (12.0) and total defense (240.9).
The 2015 Northwest defensive unit led the nation in six categories and finished atop the MIAA in 15 categories. Cornerback Bryce Enyard and safety Berg each earned first-team All-MIAA honors while garnering All-America honors from multiple outlets. In all, the Bearcats led the MIAA with 26 total interceptions and led the nation with an 87.81 team pass efficiency defense.
While at Morningside, the Mustangs thrived both on the field and off the field. Defensive secondary and special teams players garnered 10 All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) honors while two earned AFCA First Team All-America accolades. In 2011, Colby Henderson was an AFCA All-America performer and was named the NAIA Defensive Player of the Year. Henderson was also named the GPAC Defensive Player of the Year. In 2012, Jared Goforth also earned AFCA All-America honors and was a Capital One Academic All-America performer. Punter Jordan Sitzmann was a All-GPAC performer who twice earned NAIA Scholar Athlete accolades and was an Academic All-America performer in 2013.
Morningside won four GPAC titles with Clayton on staff. In 2012, the Mustangs went 13-1 and advanced to the national title game. From 2011-14, Morningside has recorded 78 interceptions, 185 pass breakups and 19 blocked kicks.
As a player at Northwest, Clayton was a four-year starter and helped lead Northwest to four national championship game apperances. He was a three-time All-MIAA performer, earning second team honors as a sophomore and again as a senior. In 2008, Clayton earned third team all-region honors. For his career, he tallied 118 tackles, 22 pass breakups and four interceptions.
During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Clayton worked with the Bearcat defensive backs as a graduate assistant. The 2009 team won the program's third NCAA Division II title.
