TAHLEQUAH -- Fresh off a 2025 campaign that saw Northeastern State win its final seven games and earn its first postseason victory since 1999, head football coach Darrin Chiaverini has agreed in principle to a new three-year contract to continue leading the RiverHawks program.

"Very excited to agree in principle on a new contract with Northeastern State University," Chiaverini said. "We started our championship build two years ago, and we have developed a championship-level team. In 2026, our goal is to get into the NCAA playoffs and compete for a national championship."

In just his second season, Chiaverini engineered one of the largest turnarounds in college football and delivered one of the most successful seasons in NSU history. After laying the foundation for improvement in 2024, Chiaverini and the RiverHawks surged to a 9-3 record in 2025, captured the First Americans Bowl championship, and recorded the program's largest year-to-year win increase since the 1994 national championship season. The nine-win campaign also marked NSU's most victories in a single season since 2000.

The 2025 season reset expectations, shattered records, and re-established Northeastern State as a rising force both regionally and nationally. NSU set school records for total points (483), touchdowns (65), and points per game (40.3), while outscoring opponents by 282 points over the course of the season. The RiverHawks closed the year on a dominant seven-game winning streak, overwhelming opponents by a combined 255 points and capping the historic run with a 56-21 victory over East Central University in the inaugural First Americans Bowl. Under Chiaverini's leadership, NSU fielded one of the most explosive and balanced offenses in the country, paired with one of the most opportunistic defenses in school history.