Josh Lattimer in his fourth season as the defensive coordinator at Northeastern State. He is also responsible for the linebackers.
Under Lattimer’s guidance, the 2015 RiverHawks defense ranked second in the MIAA in passing defense (190.4 ypg allowed).
Lattimer spent the 2013 season as the head football coach at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. He served as defensive coordinator in 2012, and he was promoted to head coach in January 2013. During his time at ECC, he handled the overall football budget, which included travel, meals, lodging, and equipment. He also oversaw all recruiting and was in charge of fundraising and grade checks.
He guided the Panthers to a 2-8 record overall and a 1-7 mark in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference in his lone season as head coach. In 2012, he helped lead ECC to a victory in the Graphic Edge Bowl and a final national ranking of No. 19 in the NJCAA polls.
He coached 11 all-conference players as head coach at ECC and also guided two players to All-American status. He had 16 sophomores move on to four-year institutions and two sign with NCAA FBS programs.
Prior to his two-year stint with Ellsworth, Lattimer served as linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Fort Scott High School in Fort Scott, Kan. He coached two all-state linebackers and helped the Tigers win district championships both years he was at his alma mater (2010-11).
He also spent four years at Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) as the linebackers coach from 2007-10. The Blue Dragons made two playoff appearances in 2008-09, and the 2009 squad won the Salt City Bowl Championship and finished the season ranked No. 13 in the nation with a 7-4 record.
In his time at the junior college level, Lattimer helped 61 players move on to the four-year level.
He began his coaching career at Pittsburg State as a student assistant from 2005-07. He helped coach the linebackers, and the 2006 squad finished the season with a Mineral Water Bowl victory over Bemidji State.
Lattimer was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American linebacker at Pitt State. He was also a two-time All-Southwest Region defensive player and landed on the All-MIAA team three times. He is currently third in school history with 394 tackles and helped lead the Gorillas to two MIAA Championships (2003-04). Pittsburg State made three appearances in the NCAA Championship tournament during Lattimer’s career, and the 2004 squad finished 14-1 and advanced to the national title game.
He was also a two-time NCAA national qualifier in the javelin throw as a member of the Gorilla track and field team.
He graduated from Fort Scott (Kan.) High School in 2000 and won three state championships his senior year in football, wrestling (215 pounds) and javelin in track and field.
Lattimer received a Bachelor of Art degree in general studies from Pittsburg State in 2007. He is married to Nicole, and the couple has four children, Jeremiah, Natalie, Jack and Joel.
