Rich Wright

Rich Wright
Current position
TitleDefensive coordinator & defensive line coach
TeamCentral Missouri
ConferenceMIAA
Biographical details
BornHamilton, New York, U.S.
Alma materDana College (1995)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1991–1992Cortland (GA)
1993–1994Dana (GA)
1995–1996Northwest Missouri State (GA)
1997Dakota State (DC)
1998Central Methodist (assistant)
1999William Penn (assistant)
2000–2003St. Ambrose (DC)
2004–2010Northwest Missouri State (DL)
2011–2016Northwest Missouri State (DC)
2017–2024Northwest Missouri State
2025–presentCentral Missouri (DC/DL)
Head coaching record
Overall65–22
Tournaments6–5 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 MIAA (2018–2019, 2021)

Rich Wright is an American college football coach. He is the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the University of Central Missouri, a position he has held since 2025. He was the head football coach for Northwest Missouri State University from 2017 to 2024.[1][2] From 1991 to 1994, Wright held several assistant coaching jobs in Nebraska and New York.[3] In 1995, Wright became a graduate assistant for Northwest Missouri State, where he was earning his master's degree, for two seasons. In 1997, Wright moved to South Dakota for an assistant coaching job.[1] Following South Dakota, Wright spent time in Missouri and Iowa, before returning to Missouri in 2004. In 2004, Wright became the defensive line coach and coordinator of special teams at Northwest Missouri State, and eventually moved to defensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 2011.[4] In December 2016 after winning the National Championship—Wright's fourth—Wright was named the program's 20th head football coach.[5]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AFCA#
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (2017–2024)
2017 Northwest Missouri State 9–3 9–2 2nd L NCAA Division II First Round 16
2018 Northwest Missouri State 10–3 9–2 T–1st L NCAA Division II Second Round 10
2019 Northwest Missouri State 12–2 10–1 T–1st L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 5
2020–21 No team—COVID-19
2021 Northwest Missouri State 11–2 9–1 1st L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 4
2022 Northwest Missouri State 10–3 9–2 2nd L NCAA Division II Second Round 8
2023 Northwest Missouri State 7–4 6–4 T–5th
2024 Northwest Missouri State 6–5 5–4 T–5th
Northwest Missouri State: 65–22 57–16
Total: 65–22
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from AFCA.

References

  1. ^ a b "Northwest Missouri State University - Wright proves perfect fit for Northwest". Bearcatsports.com. December 20, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  2. ^ "Northwest announces change in leadership of Bearcat football program". Northwest Missouri State University. November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Wright to take over as Northwest head football coach | Sports". Maryville Daily Forum. December 19, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2017.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Northwest Missouri State University - 2017 Football Coaching Staff". Bearcatsports.com. December 19, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  5. ^ "Northwest Missouri State University - Wright introduced as Northwest head coach". Bearcatsports.com. December 19, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2017.