Kenny Evans became head coach of the Northeastern State RiverHawks football program in 2008 after 28 years as an assistant coach at six other universities. During that span, Evans coached in six Bowl games, two national playoffs, and was a part of a coaching staff that won eight conference championships

Evans has coached or recruited eight All-Americans, nine conference Players of the Year, over a dozen players who have made it to the National Football League, as well as numerous All-Conference players at seven different colleges.

Before taking the NSU job, Evans coached linebackers at Louisiana Tech for Derek Dooley in 2008. In 2005, he was named the National Assistant Coach of the Year by the Football Foundation while coaching at the University of North Texas on the staff of Darrell Dickey.

While at North Texas, Evans had phenomenal success as the assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator. He helped build that program to its greatest success where the Mean Green won 38 conference games in a row, four conference championships and qualified for four bowl games. During that stretch, Evans’ defense were nationally ranked in most statistical categories, a feat also accomplished at Missouri Southern and Southeastern Oklahoma.

The Warner, Okla., native and Northeastern State graduate began his coaching career at Miami (Okla.) High School in 1981 before joining the college ranks as a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma University in 1982 for Barry Switzer and the Sooners. Afterwards, he followed long-time Sooner offensive coordinator Galen Hall to the University of Florida where he coached wide receivers for the Gators for one year.

His coaching career took him on a 12-year run with the late Jon Lantz to Southeastern Oklahoma and later to Missouri Southern. As defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, Evans helped rebuild both programs to national prominence before joining Dickey at North Texas.

"I have been fortunate in my career to be a part of some great programs and great mentors," said Evans whose father, Pete Evans, was a long-time high school coach.

His experiences at NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II levels infused a wealth of knowledge into the RiverHawks’ program upon his arrival on campus. His philosophy is simple -- "Discipline, Organization, Enthusiasm and Energy."

Evans has promised to return Northeastern State to the glory years of the past.

"These first two years have been a cultural changing time for our program, "said Evans, "and it will set the foundation for the return of championships as we develop quality student-athletes. I am extremely excited where this program is headed and look forward to seeing us turn the corner with great years ahead of us."

Evans has a 12-year-old son, Elliott, who plays football, basketball and the violin.

The Evans File

Bowl Games Coached (6) -- Fiesta, Orange, New Orleans (4x)

Conference Championships (8) -- Southeastern (SEC), Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), Big 8, Oklahoma Intercollegiate & Sun Belt (4x)

Playoff Games Coached (2) -- NCAA Division II, NAIA

Honors -- Football Foundation Assistant Coach of the Year, 2005

Mike Knoll, a previous head coach and assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level, joined the Northeastern State University football staff as the assistant head coach in January 2010.

Knoll, the former head coach at New Mexico State University and assistant coach on staffs at the University of Tulsa, Iowa State and the University of Miami, also serves as the RiverHawks’ defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

Knoll has also coached on the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels and comes to Northeastern State after serving as head football coach at Upper Iowa University (NCAA Division II) for four seasons.

Knoll said he is excited to be on the RiverHawks’ staff and sees great things ahead for the program.

"A lot of what brought me here to Northeastern State was my previous coaching experience in northeastern Oklahoma," said Knoll. "I also saw this as an opportunity to help the football program get better, through recruiting as much as anything else. When I was at TU under (John) Cooper, he said you look for players that are better than you coach. So, it’s all about recruiting and having the opportunity to work with this staff and coach Evans. The timing and opportunity just worked out."

Knoll, who said he is happy to get back to Oklahoma to continue his coaching career, he has noticed a challenge ahead for the RiverHawks entering the 2010 season, but it is one that he and the RiverHawks won’t back away from this fall.

"My last stop was at Upper Iowa University," said Knoll. "I was born and raised in Iowa and I always said it was a good place to be from, not at. This area (northeastern Oklahoma) is a special place and it’s good to be back.

"I consider this area to be as much home to me as anywhere I’ve ever been. I see a bright future for Northeastern State football and what we are going to experience."

Knoll has two daughters, Katie, who is married to Andrew Mott, and Sarah.

Matt Hodgson has worn many hats during his 14 years at Northeastern State. This season he will add to his responsibilities of coordinating the RiverHawks defense. Hodgson also recruits, heads up Academic Monitoring for the football program’s student-athletes and oversees the football letterman’s functions on an annual basis.

After completing his playing career at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and working as a student coach, Hodgson became a graduate assistant coach at Northeastern State in 1996 and was later elevated to a full-time assistant. Hodgson was a part of Tom Eckert’s staff that won Lone Star Conference championships in 1999 and 2000.

Hodgson has been a consistent fixture in the football program and in the community. He was in charge of the secondary and recruiting coordinator in 2008-09, defensive coordinator from 2003-2007, offensive coordinator from 2001-02, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach in 1999-2000. He also is an instructor in the College of Education at NSU.

An avid outdoorsman, Hodgson enjoys fishing, hunting and spending time with his family. Hodgson and wife, Kristy, who teaches in Tahlequah, have two sons, 5-year-old Gage and 2-year-old Wyatt.

Brad Cornelsen enters his second season as the offensive coordinator at Northeastern State. He will be coaching the quarterbacks, while guiding an offense that produced six All-Lone Star Conference North players and eight starters from the 2009 season.

Cornelsen came to NSU after spending the 2008 season working with quarterbacks and special teams at Oklahoma State University. The Cowboys finished the regular season 9-3 and earned a berth in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Cornelsen also spent the 2001-02 seasons as a graduate assistant coach at OSU where he worked with quarterbacks and wide receivers.

Sandwiched between his time there, Cornelsen spent five years at Illinois State (2003-2006) as the wide receivers coach. He mentored Laurent Robinson, who was selected in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. In 2005, the All-American rewrote the school and conference record books with 86 receptions for 1,465 yards and he is currently playing for the St. Louis Rams. In 2007, Cornelsen moved to coaching quarterbacks and helped Luke Drone to an All-Conference senior season with 2,222 yards and 18 touchdowns.

A native of Texhoma, Okla., Cornelsen made two high school state championship appearances in football and also helped win a state title in basketball. As a high school athlete, Cornelsen was selected to the All-State team in football, basketball and track.

From there, Cornelsen joined current NSU head coach Kenny Evans at Missouri Southern State University. As a four-year starter, he became the first quarterback in NCAA Division II history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education from MSSU, Cornelsen served one year terms as a graduate assistant at Missouri Southern, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Northwest Missouri State University.

Along with his duties as offensive coordinator, Cornelsen is in charge of summer camps, community service and the walk-on program for the RiverHawks.

David Morgan enters his third season as offensive line coach for the RiverHawks. In his second season he mentored Michael Yoder to Lone Star Conference North Division Freshman of the Year honors. Along with Yoder’s accomplishments, Colton Ables was named Honorable Mention All-LSC North.

The Texas native began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Texas, helping lead the Mean Green to the Sun Belt Conference championship and its first bowl appearance (New Orleans Bowl) in 42 years. Afterwards, Morgan was hired as defensive coordinator at West High School where the team earned its first playoff appearance and district title in 10 years. From there Morgan became an assistant coach at Wylie High School and again had success as the school earned its first playoff berth at the Class 5A level.

While playing at the University of North Texas for Kenny Evans, Morgan was a two-year starter on the offensive line and a three-year letter winner. He was part of the first Division I recruiting class at North Texas, which had memorable wins against such teams as Oregon State, Boise State and Texas Tech. Morgan, who graduated from Trinity (Texas) High School, played for head coach Ed Hickman.

John Murray begins his first season as a full-time assistant coach for the RiverHawks.

Murray, a 1983 graduate of Afton (Okla.) High School, will coach linebackers and also will serve as the strength and conditioning coordinator. He signed at played at Pittsburg State and later transferred to Northeastern State to continue his education. Murray entered the military where he became an instructor and master fitness trainer in the Army during Operation Just Cause and Desert Storm.

Murray brings a wealth of knowledge from life experiences and has been a positive influence in the RiverHawks’ camp. According to head coach Kenny Evans, Murray’s work ethic and stability make him a great strength coach and he has worked to help form NSU’s linebackers into the team’s top performers. He also will coordinate the team’s Habits and Attitude Class.

Murray and wife Tammy, also a Northeastern State grad, have four children: Taylor (16); Katie (16); Dylan (11) and Devan (11).

Nick McBroom begins his first season at Northeastern State after three previous years coaching wide receivers at Tarleton State. McBroom’s receivers were a big part of the Texans’ sharing the LSC title and earning a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2009.

Prior to his Tarleton stint, McBroom spent two seasons as secondary coach at Coffeyville Community College where the Red Ravens finished in the Top 15 each year, won the Region III championship in 2005 and played in the Golden Isle and Mountain bowls in back-to-back campaigns. He coached eight all-conference performers and two All-Americans. His also served as a student assistant coach at North Texas during his final two years at that university.

"Nick is a great recruiter as well as a top-notch coach who will bring in a championship-caliber attitude to our program," said head coach Kenny Evans, who helped McBroom get his coaching start at North Texas.

McBroom, a 2000 graduate of Electra (Texas) High School, will assist with football travel and operations, in addition to recruiting.