Season in 2025: 3rd Season
Career Record at NMU: 0-22 (0-13 GLIAC)
Career Record Overall: 39-72
Shane Richardson was hired as the 23rd head football coach at NMU on December 28, 2022.
In 2024, NMU went 0-11 but had three Wildcats made the All-GLIAC Second Team in Jahi Wood, Jax Hertel, and Daniel Babcock. Under Richardson, Northern had the third-best ground attack in the conference by averaging 178.0 yards per game. The Green and Gold also had one of the strongest offensive line units as they allowed a league-low 10 sacks across the 11-game season.
In his first season at the helm, the young Wildcat team went 0-11, but saw several underclassmen show promise for the future. Sophomore linebacker Mitch Larkin led the GLIAC with 116 total tackles, 59 coming solo, to receive ALl-GLIAC honorable mention. Also at linebacker, freshman Jax Hertel received the same honors following a season with 64 tackles, two interceptions and a pick-six. Tight end Charlie Gerhard and fullback Kyle Sahr also earned All-GLIAC recognition.
Richardson was previously the head coach at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Pembroke from 2014-2022. During his tenure, the school played as an NCAA independent until 2020 when it became a member of the Mountain East Conference. He compiled a 39-50 record, including a 10-2 mark in 2016, leading the Braves to the second-round of the conference playoffs. He spent seven seasons as UNC Pembroke's defensive coordinator from 2007-13 before being named the program's head coach on Feb. 21, 2014.
While with the Braves, Richardson was the architect of one of the nation's best defensive units. The Black & Gold ranked among the nation's top 40 teams in total defense five times over 12 years, including the 2008 squad that ranked among the nation's top 10 in nine different statistical categories. In addition to boasting the nation's top scoring defense (11.2 points/game), the Braves also ranked second in total defense (226.6 yards/game), fourth in rushing defense (71.6 yards/game), and fourth in sacks per game (4.0).
Richardson also mentored five of his defensive players to all-American honors over the last 12 seasons, including Fayetteville native Fred Williams (2008-13) who exited Pembroke as the program's all-time leader in total tackles (318), solo tackles (175), and assisted tackles (143). He also coached the program's first all-American in 2008 (Caylon Hann, DB).
The 2016 season, Richardson’s third year at the helm of the program, was arguably the finest in the 10-year history of the football program in Pembroke as the Braves established a new benchmark for single season victories (10), including their first playoff win – a 24-21 triumph at then-No. 19 Valdosta State in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Four players collected all-America honors at season’s end, including placekicker Matt Davis who eventually took home the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award which is presented annually to the nation's top placekicker in FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community.
Not unfamiliar with Northern Michigan, Richardson's coaching career began in 2001 with the Wildcats, his alma mater, where he was a graduate assistant charged with coaching the linebackers, while assisting with special teams, strength and conditioning and recruiting. That season, the Wildcats produced a pair of all-conference selections from the defensive side of the ball while turning in a respectable win-loss record.
As the linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Jamestown College in 2002, Richardson, again, helped produce postseason laurels as one of his players, defensive back Jay Lies, was named to the Engravers Edge all-America football team at season's end.
A one-year stint at North Dakota State in 2003 may have produced one of Richardson's most impressive credentials, however. With Richardson on call as a graduate assistant defensive backs coach, the Bison turned in one of the nation's best defenses, finishing the season ranked sixth in rushing defense (81.4 yards/game), ninth in scoring defense (15.3 points/game) and 16th in turnover margin (+10). En route to an 8-3 season clip, NDSU registered 20 interceptions and yielded just seven third quarter points over the course of the 11-game season. The performance produced a quintet of North Central Conference defensive players of the week, as well as a national defensive player of the week.
Following the completion of his collegiate education, the first stop of his career would take him to Iron Mountain (Mich.) High School in 2001 where he served as the school's strength and conditioning coach.
A three-year starter at linebacker, Richardson lettered four times at Northern Michigan (1997-00), while earning all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference laurels in his final two seasons in the Green and Gold. A standout classroom performer, he was also decorated with GLIAC academic honors in 2000 as well. In addition, he received the Gildo Canale Award in 2000, awarded to NMU's Top Male Student-Athlete.
Richardson earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education/social studies from NMU in 2001 and his master's degree in physical education/athletic administration from North Dakota State in 2005. As part of NDSU's advanced degree program, he served a stint as an intern with the United States Olympic Committee in 2005, specifically with USA Taekwondo. While with the USOC, he assisted in structuring and implementing a coaching development plan and coordinating a volunteer program.
Richardson and his wife, Jenna, currently reside in Marquette. The couple is the parents of three sons - Ford, Jude and Bear - and a daughter, Bo.
