(pictured L to R: Matt Wright, Jonathan Black, Ben Burns, Joe Nemith)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University Football coaching staff is beginning to take shape. Head Football Coach Brian Foos has announced the hiring of four assistant coaches that will help restore the program back to a state of success and prominence.

 

MATT WRIGHT
Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line
After successful stints at the NAIA and NCAA Division III levels, Matt Wright will rejoin Brian Foos for a third time in his coaching career.

Wright, a former Division III student-athlete at Monmouth College, has become a regular in college football's postseason. As a center for Monmouth, Wright blocked for two-time Gagliardi Trophy finalist and three-time All-American quarterback, Alex Tanney. In three of his four seasons with the Fighting Scots, Wright helped the team advance to the Division III playoffs. As a senior in 2011, Wright was named honorable mention all-conference for his work in the trenches.

In his first coaching foray, Wright served as the tight ends coach at Lindsey Wilson College for four years. Alongside of Coach Foos, the two helped the Blue Raiders to three consecutive trips to the NAIA national playoffs (2014, 2015, 2016) behind offenses that regularly averaged more than 40 points per game. Under his tutelage, Wright coached tight end Emilio Gonzalez to first team all-conference honors in 2013 and 2014.

In 2018, Wright went to coach at Austin Peay University (NCAA Division I FCS) where he spent two seasons as its tight ends coach. After 29 games without a win prior to his arrival, Wright and the Governors not only snapped that streak but went on to post an 8-4 record in one of college football's biggest single-season turnarounds.

Prior to the 2020 season, Wright reunited with Foos at Madonna University (Mich.) where he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach while preparing the team for its first season of play.

Wright holds a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Monmouth following his graduation in 2011.

"Matt was instrumental in the success we had at Lindsey Wilson and Madonna. He is a first-class recruiter. In our first year at Madonna, he recruited more than half of our very first recruiting class.

Matt and I think a lot alike when it comes to the offense. He knows the kind of offensive football that I want to see, so we will be in sync with what happens on that side of the ball. More importantly, Matt is a great person. I am excited about him joining this football staff." - Brian Foos, head football coach


 

JONATHAN BLACK
Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line
Jonathan Black will serve as the Crusaders' defensive coordinator after serving in the same position with Foos at Madonna. In 2019, Black was hired to lead the defensive linemen and Madonna's strength and conditioning program in the team's first year of existence. He was then promoted to defensive coordinator in what was supposed to be the program's first season of play before the pandemic postponed the season.

Prior to arriving at Madonna, Black was a graduate assistant coach overseeing the defensive linemen at his alma mater, Waldorf University (IA), from 2017-18. In those years, he saw three of his players earn all-conference honors, including James Bell who set the single-game sacks record (4) versus Dakota State in 2018. Bell went on to become the career sacks leader at Waldorf with 19 between 2016 and 2019.

In 2017, Waldorf put together the best season in the program's history behind an 8-3 record, this coming off of a 1-9 performance the year prior. The Warriors earned their first win over a nationally-ranked opponent the following year after defeating No. 16 Dickinson State University, 23-22, the first such win in the program's existence. In both years Black was on staff, the Warriors' defense twice broke the single-season team sack record with 18 in 2017 and 20 in 2018.

As a student-athlete at Waldorf, Black was a four-time academic all-conference selection in route to earning his bachelor's degree in psychology in 2017. He then earned his master's degree in organizational leadership and sports management at Waldorf in 2019.

"When I hired Jonathan at Madonna, we all felt his immediate impact. It's the same positive impact that he will have on our student-athletes here at Capital. He demands maximum effort and hard work, and he is an extremely intelligent football coach. He is a great recruiter that truly cares for his student-athletes." - Brian Foos, head football coach
 

 

JOE NEMITH
Co-Defensive Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach/ Defensive Backs
Joe Nemith comes to Capital with an extensive resume that has taken him through all three NCAA divisions as well as the NAIA, and at all levels he has had success.

Nemith's coaching career began in 1998 when he joined the University of Akron as its defensive graduate assistant. After two seasons with the Zips, he made the jump to Tri-State University (now Trine University) to become its defensive coordinator. In two seasons, his defenses twice placed inside the nation's top-25 in different statistical categories. In 2001, the Thunder finished 8-3, were co-champions of the Mid-State Football Association (MSFA), and was a national playoff qualifier. He was also named the MSFA Assistant Coach of the Year following the 2000 season.

Nemith then spent two seasons at Robert Morris University (Pa.) and again, his defenses found their place in the national rankings. In 2002, the Colonials ranked seventh in total defense (261.6 yards per game) and were number one in pass defense, allowing just 90.9 yards per contest. The following year, they finished as the seventh-best run defense after allowing just 116.1 yards per game.

In 2004, Nemith returned to the Buckeye State where he helped start the Ohio Dominican University football program. From 2004 to 2009, he served as the associate head coach, defensive coordinator and was in charge of the Panthers' defensive backs. In 2007, Nemith helped build a defense that posted a plus-15 turnover margin, which ranked sixth in the country. Behind that performance, ODU went on to win a conference championship and earn a national playoff qualifying spot.

Nemith then stayed in the Columbus area but took over as the co-defensive coordinator at Otterbein University for three years (2010-12). In his first year, he coached All-American Dominic Jones to the Lee Tressel Award for most outstanding defensive back and All-OAC pick Anthony Korpieski to lead the league in interceptions.

In 2013, Nemith made the jump to the NCAA Division II level as Ashland University's defensive backs and special teams coach. Two years into his stay, the Oilers won the 2015 GLIAC Championship and qualified for the postseason. The following season, Ashland led the league in pass defense (186.0 ypg) and was third in the nation in touchdown passes allowed (11).
 
After spending the 2017 season at Baldwin Wallace as its linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, Nemith went to Urbana University as its co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach where he spent two seasons elevating the Blue Knights' defense to the top of the Mountain East Conference.

Over the course of his coaching career, Nemith has overseen the selection of 51 all-conference players, eight All-Americans, two conference rookie of the year picks, and one Cliff Harris Award nominee to recognize the best small college defensive back.

Nemith played his college football at Malone University where he was a member of the first team and graduating class in the program's history. He was a safety with the Pioneers and helped Malone to its first playoff berth following its 1995 conference title. Nemith is an Akron native and played football at Akron Garfield High School under Hall of Fame head coach, Bill McGee.

"I've known Joe for a long time, maybe 16 years now. He is a proven winner and is extremely passionate about what he does. He works exceptionally hard and his tireless energy will serve as a great example to our student-athletes. I'm very excited to add someone of Joe's caliber to our staff."
- Brian Foos, head football coach


 

BEN BURNS
Wide Receivers / Recruitment Coordinator
Ben Burns has spent much of his college coaching career in the City of Columbus after graduating from The Ohio State University in 2015. While finishing his degree at OSU, he served as an intern with the Ohio Dominican University football program as its offensive quality control coordinator.

Following the completion of his internship, Burns moved on to McKendree University (Ill.) to oversee the Bearcats' tight ends. In that 2016 season, McKendree placed second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference behind an overall 8-3 record.

In 2017, Burns was hired as the running backs coach and academic coordinator at Urbana University. That season began the turnaround of the Blue Knights program that saw just three wins in 2016 elevate to seven in 2019, a year in which the team finished ninth in Super Region I. He also took on recruiting coordinator and wide receiver coach duties during his three seasons with Urbana.

Burns then returned to Columbus when he assumed the role of wide receiver and running back coach at Ohio Dominican prior to Fall 2020.
Burns holds a Bachelor's of Science in physical education, which he completed in 2015.

"I have wanted Ben on my staff for some time and I'm very happy that we get to work together now. Ben understands the details that need to be addressed with close attention in order to be successful, and it shows in all of his work. I'm excited that he is going to be part of this staff." - Brian Foos, head football coach
 
Contact the coaches

In further describing his staff, Coach Foos went on to say, "This group is full of great recruiters, great football coaches, but they are all even better people, which is important to me and will only better this program. It is going to be fun to see this talented staff work with and begin to build up our student-athletes on the field, in the classroom, and in our communities."

Capital Football will begin its five-game season on Friday, March 12 on the road against Wilmington College. It's first home contest will be on March 19 against Heidelberg University.

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