Jake Willrich joined the Northwest Missouri State University football coaching staff in December 2024. Willrich will serve as the Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach and Recruiting Co-Coordinator
"Coach Willrich brings extensive experience coaching special teams and the secondary in the MIAA, consistently producing some of the nation’s top-performing units,” McMenamin said. “With 18 years of experience coaching defensive backs, his ability to connect with student-athletes sets him apart as one of the best in the field."
Willrich served as an assistant coach at Wayne State College in 2024. The Wildcats ranked No. 3 in the country in net punting (41.94 yards/punt) and No. 6 in the nation in kick return coverage (14.53 yards/kick return).
Willrich spent his fall 2023 season helping at Kearney High School in Kearney, Neb.
He was a member of the University of Nebraska-Kearney football coaching staff from 2014 to 2022. He began his coaching tenure at UNK as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. Under head coach Josh Lynn, Willrich moved to defensive secondary while still working with the special teams. In 2022, the Lopers led the nation in net punting and passing efficiency.
Willrich spent five seasons at Austin College (NCAA Div. III) as defensive coordinator, secondary coach and strength & conditioning coach. At Austin, Willrich's defense was among the best in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). Over five years, his defense forced 95 turnovers with 32 players being named all-conference. In 2011, Austin was among the league leaders in red zone defense and interceptions while ranking first in rush defense and third down percentage defense in 2012. A year later, the 'Roos were second in the conference in scoring defense (23.7).
He also gained coaching experience at Hastings College where he was a part of a turnaround of a program that culminated with a berth into the 2009 NAIA playoffs.
Willrich was a two-year graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State for head coach Mel Tjeerdsma. At Northwest, Willrich worked with the defensive backs during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He was a part of a 2004 squad that went 11-2 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs while the 2003 team won the MIAA title.
Willrich, a native of Grimes, Iowa, played college football at Truman State University. He was a three-time All-MIAA linebacker for the Bulldogs. Finishing in the top five in school history in career tackles, Willrich was a second-team all-league pick his senior season.
Holding an undergraduate degree from Truman and a Master's from Northwest, Willrich and his wife, Erin, have three sons, Payton, Hudson and Creighton.
