High-altitude football in Flagstaff is weird. It just is. You’re playing at 7,000 feet, the air is thin, and the "Walkup Skydome" feels like a strange, cavernous relic from a different era of the Big Sky Conference. But lately, things have started to feel different. If you’ve been following the Northern Arizona University football coaches over the last few decades, you know the program has basically been a rollercoaster of "almost there" followed by "where did it go?"
People look at the record books and see a lot of .500 seasons. Honestly, they miss the nuance. They miss the fact that this program has actually been a massive launching pad for some of the biggest names in the NFL today. We're talking Andy Reid-level big.
The Brian Wright Era: A Massive Shift
Right now, the conversation starts and ends with Brian Wright. He stepped into Flagstaff in December 2023 as the 31st head coach in program history. Most fans were cautiously optimistic. You've gotta remember, the team was coming off some lean years under Chris Ball.
Wright didn't wait around.
In his first year (2024), he basically flipped the script. He took a program that hadn't seen the postseason since 2017 and dragged them into the FCS Playoffs. Eight wins. A perfect 5-0 at home in the Skydome. That kind of turnaround doesn't just happen because the players got better overnight. It's about a specific kind of "proven winner" mentality that Wright brought over from Pittsburg State, where he was busy winning MIAA championships and going 33-8.
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Wait, it gets better. Just this week—January 2026—Wright made some huge waves with his staff. He brought in Trenton Greene as the new Defensive Coordinator. Greene is coming fresh off a national title run with Montana State. He also added Preston Mays to coach the running backs. It’s a calculated move. Wright is clearly leaning into his Youngstown State roots (where he coached Mays) and his Big Sky connections to keep the momentum from that 2024 playoff run alive.
The "Smokey Joe" and the Legend of Jerome Souers
If you want to understand the DNA of NAU football, you have to talk about Jerome Souers. 21 years. That’s how long he sat in the big chair. From 1998 to 2018, Souers was the face of the program. He’s the all-time leader in wins (123) and games coached.
But was he "the best"?
That’s where the debate starts. He won a Big Sky title in 2003, sure. He took them to the playoffs five times. But he also had a lot of years where the team just... hovered. He was stable. In the chaotic world of college coaching, stability is a rare currency.
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Then there’s Joe "Smokey" Salem. The 1970s in Flagstaff belonged to him. He was the guy who finally broke the seal on the Big Sky, winning the conference in 1978 with a 6-0 record. People still talk about the 1977 and 1978 teams with a sort of reverent hushed tone. He had this .591 winning percentage that set the bar for every coach who followed. When you think of Northern Arizona University football coaches who actually "got" the culture of the mountain, Salem is usually the first name old-timers bring up.
The NFL Tree Nobody Talks About
Here is the part that usually blows people's minds. Look at the staff under Larry Kentera in the late 80s. It sounds like a Madden fever dream.
- Andy Reid: Yeah, the Chiefs' legend. He was the offensive line coach here.
- Brad Childress: Former Vikings head coach.
- Marty Mornhinweg: Former Lions head coach.
- Bill Callahan: Former Raiders head coach.
Think about that. Four future NFL head coaches were all walking the same sidelines in Flagstaff at the same time. Kentera’s record wasn't even that great (26-29), but his ability to pick staff was legendary. It makes you wonder what was in the water at the Skydome back then.
Why Coaching in Flagstaff is Brutal
Let’s be real. It’s hard to recruit here. You’re competing against the Phoenix schools—Arizona and ASU—and the big Montana schools that have massive fanbases. You’re telling a kid from California to come live in the snow and play in a dome that, while cool, isn't exactly a high-tech Taj Mahal.
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The successful Northern Arizona University football coaches are the ones who use the altitude as a weapon. Max Spilsbury did it in the 50s and 60s, winning seven Frontier Conference titles. He just out-toughed people. Brian Wright seems to be doing the same thing. He’s building a "tough, physical identity," which is exactly what Trenton Greene mentioned when he signed on this month.
The Current 2026 Coaching Staff
If you're looking for who's actually running the show right now under Wright, here's how the room looks:
- Brian Wright: Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs (He likes to keep his hands on the offense).
- Trenton Greene: Defensive Coordinator / Safeties (The new guy with the championship ring).
- Bryan Larson: Co-Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line.
- Preston Mays: Running Backs.
- Adam Clark: He’s moved through different roles but remains a key defensive mind.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that NAU is a "stepping stone" job. While guys like Andy Reid moved on, many coaches stay for a long time. They fall in love with the town. But that longevity can sometimes lead to stagnation. The trick—and what Wright is trying to prove—is whether you can stay long-term and actually keep winning at a national level, not just "staying competitive" in the Big Sky.
The 2024 season showed that the ceiling is higher than people thought. 8-5 isn't just a winning record; it was a statement. Then 2025 happened, and things leveled off a bit at 7-5. Now, heading into the 2026 cycle, the pressure is back on.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you’re tracking this program, keep an eye on the transfer portal specifically regarding the defensive side now that Greene is in charge. His "Bozeman blueprint" from Montana State is likely what he'll try to implement in Flagstaff.
- Watch the Home Record: If Wright keeps the Skydome a fortress (like that 5-0 run), NAU is always a playoff threat.
- Quarterback Development: Ty Pennington thrived under Wright. Watch how the new staff handles the depth chart this spring.
- Recruiting the Trenches: Bryan Larson’s offensive line paved the way for over 2,500 rushing yards recently. If that production dips, the whole "mountain tough" identity falls apart.
Basically, the coaching history here is a mix of legendary NFL mentors and long-term stalwarts. We’re currently in the middle of the most aggressive "win-now" push the university has seen in twenty years. Whether Brian Wright becomes the next Jerome Souers (in terms of years) or the next Joe Salem (in terms of rings) is the only question that matters right now.