FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Dec. 12, 2023) – Northern Arizona University head football coach
Brian Wright has announced the addition of six new assistant coaches to his staff.
Wright brings on defensive coordinator
Adam Clark, offensive line coach
Bryan Larson, defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator
Devante Sims, running backs coach
Terry Swanson, tight ends coach
Nick Fett, and wide receivers coach and offensive pass game coordinator, Jerry Diminno.
To read more about the newest Lumberjacks, see below.
Adam Clark / Defensive Coordinator
Adam Clark joined the Lumberjacks in December of 2023 as the defensive coordinator. The 2024 season is his first on staff.
Clark has been coaching for nearly 20 years and has been a part of eight conference championship teams during his college coaching and playing career.
Previously, Clark spent five seasons with Angelo State University as its defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Clark helped guide the Rams to a 38-10 record over four seasons and to their first outright Lone Star Conference (LSC) championship in nearly 40 years and back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in the Division II era.
During Clark's time at Angelo State, his defense has been at the top of the LSC in most defensive categories which included a national top-10 unit in numerous categories each season, only giving up 15.5 points per game over 48 games.
In 2021, the Rams had one of the top defenses in the country, ranking eighth overall in total defense, allowing only 253.3 yards of offense per game. Angelo State allowed only 76.9 rushing yards per game which was the sixth lowest average in all of Division II. The Rams allowed 14 or fewer points in eight games on the season and ranked 11th in the country in turnover margin and 17th in scoring defense.
In Clark's first year at Angelo State, the Ram defense was one of the top units in the nation. They ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring defense and were also in the top ten nationally in red zone defense (7th), pass defensive efficiency (4th), yards per play (10th), and takeaways per game (10th). The defense was in the top three in virtually every defensive category within the LSC including being the top unit in various categories.
Clark was also at Tarleton State as a defensive line/special teams coordinator and assistant head coach where he compiled a 12-1 record, a Lone Star Conference Championships, a Regional Finalist, and a No. 4 national ranking. Clark was responsible for recruiting duties, coaching the defensive line, and coordinating all special teams. In addition, Clark was responsible for assisting the head coach and defensive coordinators with their duties.
Clark was also the head coach of Western New Mexico. With the Mustangs, he was the third-winningest coach in over the 100-year history of the program.
In 2017, Clark's defense was in the top half of the Lone Star Conference in nearly all defensive categories. During the 2014 and 2015 campaigns, the Mustangs offense was ranked in the top 10 nationally. In 2011, Western New Mexico's defense was in the top 20 nationally with turnovers forced 34. He began his time with the Mustangs as their defensive coordinator for three months, before being elevated to the head coach. Coach Clark was also the recruiter for Arizona.
Clark was also the defensive line coach at the Colorado School of Mines from February 2008 to February 2010. With the Orediggers, they won eight games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. Clark also coached three all-conference players and RMAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.
Clark would head back to St. Ambrose as their defensive coordinator and strength coach for one season from May 2007 to February 2008. The Fighting Bees won the Mid-States Football Association conference that season and finished the season as #10 in the nation.
He led the defense which was ranked nationally in the following categories: #2 Passing Defense: 134 yards per game, #2 Passing Defense Efficiency: 80.6, #4 Scoring Defense: 12.8, #4 Turnovers Forced: 38, #18 Total Defense: 288.5 yards per game.
Clark coached the defensive backs and was the strength coach at Graceland University from June 2004 to May 2007. With the Yellowjackets, Clark helped the 2005 team to their first conference championship in more than 30 years and coached the Conference Player of the Year. During that same season, the defense was second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and was ranked tenth in the nation with 18 interceptions. In addition, Clark was a part of training Yellowjackets teams that finished with the best three-year record in school history from 2004-2006.
Clark began his career at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa as a graduate assistant from July 2002 to May 2004. He worked with outside linebackers, safeties, the defensive line and special teams. Helped coach the team to back-to-back conference championships and playoff appearances.
Clark earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from St. Ambrose and a master's degree in organizational leadership.
A native of San Diego, California, Clark and his wife Mimi have two sons, Caden and Kai, and one daughter, Kalena.
Bryan Larson / Offensive Line Coach
Larson comes to NAU after four seasons at Pittsburg State with head coach
Brian Wright.
Larson's offensive line helped the Gorillas average 32.1 points and 373.8 total yards per game in 2022. In 2021, Pitt State led the MIAA in fewest sacks allowed (12).
Larson was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Toledo during the 2019 season. He primarily worked with the offensive line during his time with the Rockets.
An offensive lineman at Iowa State University from 2013-17, he began his career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship and lettering as a senior.
Larson earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Iowa State in 2017. He served the ISU program as a strength & conditioning intern in 2017 and as an offensive line student assistant in 2018.
Larson earned All-State honors as a senior at Humboldt (Iowa) High School in 2012. He also lettered in basketball and track.
Devante Sims / Defensive Backs Coach / Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
Sims joins head coach
Brian Wright from Pittsburg State University, where he served as the cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator for one season.
Before Pitt State, Sims served as the defensive backs coach at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.
While at Angelo State, he helped the Rams claim the 2022 Lone Star Conference Championship, posting a 12-1 record while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II national playoffs. ASU ranked in the top five nationally in scoring defense (#4), passing yards allowed (#4), total defense (#1), interceptions (#1) and defensive passing efficiency (#2) in 2022. During the 2021 season, the Rams posted an 11-3 record and reached the NCAA-II national quarterfinals.
Before coaching at Angelo State, Sims served as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Eastern New Mexico State University from July 2019 to March 2021. During the 2018 season, Sims served as Co-Defensive Coordinator and defensive backs coach at his alma mater, Lake Erie College. He also served as cornerbacks coach at Angelo State in 2017 and at Thiel College in 2016.
Sims played collegiately at Lake Erie from the 2011-14 seasons. A three-year starter, he compiled 113 career tackles and finished his career tied for third place in school history in pass breakups.
A native of Fort Myers, Fla., Sims earned a bachelor's of science degree in sports management from Lake Erie College in May 2015.
Terry Swanson / Running Backs Coach
Swanson joins head coach
Brian Wright from Pittsburg State University, where he held the same position.
Swanson was the staff's NFL liaison at Pitt State. Before working with the Gorillas, Swanson was at the University of Toledo where he most recently served as a director of player development. He previously served as a recruiting assistant at Toledo in 2020 and as a graduate assistant at Saint Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla., during the 2019 season.
Swanson played at Toledo from 2014-17, rushing for 3,601 career yards and twice earning All-MIAC honors. He played under Coach Wright for one season with the Rockets. Swanson enjoyed a brief stint in the NFL with the Houston Texans in 2018. He later signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL in 2020.
A native of Aliquippa, Pa., Swanson earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Toledo in May 2018.
Nick Fett / Tight Ends Coach
Fett comes to NAU after spending four seasons at Pitt State with head coach
Brian Wright. Fett was an offensive graduate assistant during his first two years with the Gorillas.
Fett coached a first-team All-MIAA and NCAA Division II All-America performer in tight end Devon Garrison in 2022.
Fett was an assistant coach at Greene County High School in Jefferson, Iowa, during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Fett earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior offensive lineman for Iowa State University in 2016. He began his career with the Cyclones as a walk-on before eventually earning a scholarship at ISU. Fett received the Arthur Floyd Scott Award as the team's top offensive lineman his senior season. Following his senior season, Fett signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.
A native of Audubon, Iowa, Fett earned a bachelor's of science degree in ag education from Iowa State in December 2019.
Jerry DiMinno / Wide Receivers Coach / Offensive Pass Game Coordinator
In his first two years with the Gorillas, DiMinno was the tight ends coach.
In 2022, the Gorillas ranked second in the MIAA in passing touchdowns (29).
DiMinno was an assistant recruiting coordinator at the University of Toledo in 2019.
DiMinno served as a graduate assistant for the Rockets during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, helping Toledo claim the 2017 Mid-American Conference Championship. He was a student assistant at Toledo from 2013-16, working with quarterbacks from 2013-16 and wide receivers in 2017. DiMinno mainly worked with quarterbacks in 2018.
A native of Canton, Ohio, DiMinno graduated from Canton South High School in 2013. He graduated from the University of Toledo in 2017 with a degree in sports administration.
