Jeremy Atwell enters his first full season as Defensive Coordinator, his second as Assistant Head Coach, and his third on staff as Safeties coach. Atwell also served as Special Teams Coordinator during his first two seasons with the program.
Atwell assumed Co-Defensive Coordinator responsibilities following the fifth game of the 2025 season. Over the remainder of the campaign, the RiverHawks allowed just over 11 points per game while forcing 15 turnovers and recording 11 sacks. No opponent scored more than 21 points during the undefeated seven-game stretch, marking the program's longest streak of holding opponents to 21 points or fewer since 2000.
During the campaign, Atwell guided a RiverHawks secondary that produced record-setting results, recording 22 interceptions to set the program's NCAA-era record. Opposing offenses were held to just 16 passing touchdowns, the fewest since 2010, while averaging only 188.5 passing yards per game, the program's lowest mark since 2014.
Atwell coached multiple individuals to standout, record-breaking campaigns in 2025. Marvelous Owens recorded seven interceptions, the most by an NSU player since 1988. Owens also tallied 11 pass breakups, the program's highest total since 2019, on his way to becoming NSU's first defensive All-American since 2013 and the program's first First Team All-American defender since 2010. Jordan Tolbert also made an immediate impact under Atwell's guidance, recording four interceptions to set the program's NCAA-era record for a true freshman.
On special teams, kicker Troy Nguyen continued his development with the highest-scoring season by a kicker in program history, totaling 87 points to break the previous record set in 1982 by NSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Arthur Garcia. Nguyen also established a program record with 60 made PATs, eclipsing the 55-year-old mark previously held by fellow Hall of Fame inductee Larry Dotson. His 23 touchbacks on kickoff duties also set a program record. Nguyen's signature performance of the season occurred on Nov. 15 at West Alabama, where he became the first kicker since 2006 to convert four field goal tries in a single game, also connecting on all three PAT attempts to match his own single-game scoring record at the position inside the program with 15 points in the 33-20 victory.
Mo Foketi handled punting duties and, under Atwell's guidance, earned a pair of All-American honors to become the program's first special teams All-American since 2009. Foketi also established the program's single-season record with a 45.3-yard punting average, surpassing the previous mark set by NSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Mark Ross in 1979.
In his first season at NSU, Atwell coached kicker Troy Nguyen to the most successful season in Tahlequah at the position in over a decade. Nguyen would score 57 points, the most for a kicker since 2011, while knocking down seven field goals with a season long of 49 yards. Atwell coached the punting unit to their highest average yardage total (41.3) of Northeastern State's NCAA era. Atwell additionally helped in coaching a defense that allowed 6.36 fewer points per game and 70 fewer points overall, as well as achieving their first shutout victory since 2011 with a 48-0 triumph over Lincoln (Ca.) on Oct. 26. He helped develop a pass defense that surrendered 741 yards and 24 fewer first downs through the air.
Atwell came to Tahlequah in the winter of 2024 after spending the 2023 season as Northwestern State’s linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. He was previously the defensive coordinator at Albany State where he built a defense that led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in pass efficiency defense and was second in the league in scoring defense in conference games, allowing just 7.4 points per game, and in third-down defense, al- lowing a 31.1-percent conversion rate. Under Atwell, the Rams were a top-10 unit nationally in scoring defense (14.9 points per game) and produced four All-SI- AC selections.
Before his one season at Albany State, Atwell was the defensive coordinator at New Mexico Highlands for two seasons.
Atwell’s 2021 defense ranked third nationally in Division II in interceptions, leading the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. It also led the RMAC in total turnovers forced, ranking 11th nationally in that category as the Cowboys posted their most wins (6) since 2012. That defense, which ranked fourth in the RMAC in third-down defense, produced three All-RMAC selections.
Atwell’s two seasons at New Mexico Highlands came after six years coaching at Louisiana high schools.
During the 2019 season, Atwell was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Terrebonne High School, coordinating an offense that averaged 33.5 points per game and committed just five turnovers.
Atwell’s Thibodaux team featured four FBS prospects — three of whom signed with Power Five programs.
Atwell spent five seasons as the head coach at Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, taking the Terriers to the state playoffs each season.
Before his high school excursion, Atwell spent nine seasons on staff at Nicholls as the Colonels’ assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. While with Nicholls, Atwell produced a remarkable turnaround on defense — lifting the Colonels upward in five major statistical categories in two seasons.
Under Atwell’s tutelage, the Colonels were the least-penalized defense in the Southland and ranked in the top four in third-down conversion percentage, pass defense, and total defense while creating 22 total turnovers.
Atwell’s time at Nicholls produced 21 All-Southland honorees, three All-Americans, and a pair of NFL Draft picks — Lardarius Webb (Baltimore) and Kareem Moore (Washington).
From 2002-05, Atwell was the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Thibodaux High School, helping the Tigers break a 10-year playoff drought in 2003. In his four seasons on staff, Atwell helped Thibodaux post a 22-21 record while coaching 26 all-district and three all-state selections.
Atwell’s college coaching career also included a season as the defensive ends coach at Nicholls (2001) and a year as an assistant defensive backs coach at Southeast Missouri State where Atwell was a two-year letterman who earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as an inside linebacker.
A team captain, Atwell led the Redhawks in tackles, tackles for loss, fumble recoveries, and forced fumbles. He was the runner-up for the OVC Defensive Player of the Year honor after leading the conference in tackles for loss.
A 2000 graduate of Southeast Missouri State, Atwell earned his master’s degree in human performance and sport from New Mexico Highlands.
Atwell and his wife, Cindy, have two sons, Christian and Cameron, and a daughter, Callie.
