Brian Wright was named Northern Arizona's 31st head football coach on December 3, 2023. The 2025 season will be his second at the helm.

In his first season in 2024, Wright guided the Lumberjacks to their first 8-win season since 2013 and the program's first FCS Playoff appearance since 2017. NAU, which finished the season at 8-5, concluded the season ranked No. 22 in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and FCS Coaches Poll. The Lumberjacks were nationally-ranked for the first time since 2018.

The Lumberjacks tied for third in the Big Sky with a 6-2 league mark and posted a five-game winning streak to close the regular season. Wright also led NAU to a perfect 5-0 record in the Walkup Skydome, just the program's third all-time unbeaten home record.

Under Wright’s guidance, Ty Pennington blossomed as the Lumberjacks' starting quarterback and earned Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. A total of 13 total Lumberjacks earned All-Conference honors, tying the 1997 squad for the second-most All-Conference selections in program history.
 
Wright joined NAU from Pittsburg State University where he served as head coach from 2020-23. A proven winner, Wright guided Pitt State to consecutive Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championships, going 23-3 over his final two seasons. The 2022 MIAA Conference Coach of the Year, Wright owned an overall record of 33-8 (.805) during his time at Pitt State with two NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

Wright brought a wealth of experience with him to Flagstaff from Toledo, Montana State and Youngstown State. Wright was part of the 1997 Youngstown State FCS National Championship squad as a graduate assistant and assistant wide receivers coach. He also had an interim head coaching stop at Florida Atlantic where he guided the Owls to a 4-0 record, outscoring opponents 151-40 during his interim tenure while reaching bowl eligibility.

Prior to Pitt State, Wright spent four seasons at Toledo as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. His high-powered offense led the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in total offense and scoring offense in 2017, ranking 19th and 14th in the country, respectively. In 2017 he was a Broyles Award nominee, given to the nation's top assistant coach, while helping lead the Rockets to a MAC title after finishing the year 10-3. During his time at Toledo, the Rockets were one of seven FBS programs to finish in the top-25 in scoring offense in three-straight seasons.
 
While at Florida Atlantic, he served in several different roles from 2012-15 as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. As interim head coach, he helped the Owls improve from a 2-6 overall record to 6-6 in one season and coached six players to NFL contracts and the 2013 C-USA Newcomer of the Year in quarterback Jaquez Johnson.
 
Wright is no stranger to the Big Sky Conference having spent two seasons at Montana State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He found success during his time as a Bobcat, winning two Big Sky titles in 2010 and 2011 and qualifying for the FCS playoffs both years. Wright ran a potent offense that led the Big Sky and ranked 10th nationally in 2011 in total offense and scoring offense with the help of seven All-Big Sky Conference honorees that season.
 
When Wright arrived at MSU in 2010, he helped improve the team record from 7-4 to 9-3 on the back of the Big Sky's leading, and fourth-best nationally, total offense. The 2010 Bobcat squad ranked in the top-10 in eight national offensive statistical categories. Wright coached Denarius McGhee to Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors as McGhee was also a Walter Payton Award candidate.
 
Wright spent the bulk of his early career at Youngstown State serving in several roles, including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for four seasons. Career highlights at YSU include a 2006 Gateway Conference Championship that was followed by an FCS Semifinal appearance. He coached seven All-Gateway Conference players, two All-Americans, one Walter Payton Award finalist and one Gateway Conference Player of the Year during his time with the Penguins.
 
He began his coaching career at Walsh University where he received his Master of Arts degree in education. He was a two-time football captain at the College of Wooster where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics in 1994. Wright is a native of Wooster, Ohio, and he and his wife Laura have three children Jake, Marielle and Joseph.

Head Coach Brian Wright's Coaching Resume
 

2024-Present	Northern Arizona - Head Coach
2020-23	Pittsburg State - Head Coach
2016-19	Toledo - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2014-15	Florida Atlantic - Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2013	Florida Atlantic - Interim Head Coach (last four games)
2012-13	Florida Atlantic - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2010-11	Montana State - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2005-09	Youngstown State - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2004-07	Youngstown State - Recruiting Coordinator
2003	Youngstown State - Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
2001-02	Youngstown State - Quarterbacks
2000	Walsh - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
1999	Walsh - Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Co-Special Teams Coordinator
1998	Walsh - Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
1997	Youngstown State - Graduate Assistant
1995-96	Walsh - Graduate Assistant