FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 16, 2026) – Northern Arizona head football coach
Brian Wright completed his coaching staff for the 2026 season with the announcement of
Aman Anand and
Kendall Coleman as NAU's special teams coordinator and defensive line coach, respectively.
"I'm excited to welcome both
Aman Anand and
Kendall Coleman to our staff," Wright said. "Together, these two additions bring valuable experience to Flagstaff and help us continue to build a strong, championship-level culture within our program."
The hiring of Anand marks a return to Flagstaff for the Lumberjacks' new special teams coordinator. Anand previously served as a graduate assistant for the Lumberjacks in 2015. During his first stint at NAU, Anand worked with the defensive line, helping Zach McDonnell earn All-Big Sky recognition that season.
Anand spent the 2025 season at LSU as the Tigers' senior special teams analyst. Placekicker Damian Ramos and punter Grant Chadwick were named to the All-SEC Third Team in 2025, with Ramos breaking LSU's all-time record for field goals and points scored and Chadwick finishing second in the SEC in punt average. Additionally, LSU ranked 18th in the FBS in kick return average (24.4).
Prior to LSU, Anand spent a season at Grambling State as special teams coordinator. Grambling State led the SWAC in kickoffs and returned both a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. Anand spent the 2023 season as running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Texas Southern, where his special teams unit ranked in the top 25 of the FCS in kickoff and punt returns.
Anand has experience as a special teams quality control coach at Baylor (2020-22). His early coaching career that began in 2011 includes time at Old Dominion, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, NAU, Utah State, Memphis and Penn State.
"Aman brings a proven track record of special teams success from his time at LSU, Baylor and Grambling State, and what makes this even more special is that he began his coaching career right here at NAU," Wright said. "For him to come back home and be a part of what we are building speaks volumes about our program and our vision moving forward."
Coleman coached the defensive line at Texas A&M-Kingsville following four seasons at his alma mater, Syracuse. During the 2025 season, Coleman coached Kerry North and Doug Brooks to all-conference honorable mention honors in the Lone Star Conference. The all-conference duo combined for 69 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks.
Coleman began his coaching career at Syracuse where he spent two seasons as an offensive graduate assistant and two seasons as a defensive analyst from 2021-2024. The Orange went to three bowl games during his four seasons on the staff.
Coleman starred at Syracuse, where he started 43 games during his collegiate playing career, which overlapped with newly-hired NAU defensive coordinator Trenton Greene's stint as a defensive graduate assistant.
"Kendall will be a tremendous asset to our program," Wright said. "He is a passionate teacher of the game, great mentor and has experience in Coach Greene's system. His experience as a four-year starter at Syracuse University, followed with four seasons coaching at his alma mater, will pay huge dividends as we develop our defensive line."
A four-year starter at defensive end from 2016-19, Coleman logged 137 tackles, 26.5 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 sacks and was a team captain in his final season in 2019. That season, he was the recipient of the Bill Horr Award as Syracuse's most valuable player. After attending the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Coleman signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
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