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April 2, 2024MARYVILLE, Mo.

Bearcat football adds two to coaching staff

Ryan Gent and Neil Novak are the newest additions to the Northwest football coaching staff.

Ryan Gent and Neil Novak are the newest additions to the Northwest football coaching staff. (Photo courtesy Northwest Athletics)

 

Northwest Missouri State head football coach Rich Wright announced the hiring of Ryan Gent and Neil Novak to the coaching staff for the 2024 season.

Gent joins the program as assistant head coach – wide receivers/director of camps, while Novak is assistant coach – secondary/recruiting coordinator. Each return to Maryville with experience on the Northwest campus.

Gent was a graduate assistant in 2014 and 2015 working with the offensive line and running backs, then elevated to running backs/tight ends assistant coach for the 2016 season.

A native of Wellman, Iowa, Gent played at Iowa State from 2010-13. After earning his master's from Northwest, he coached wide receivers at Abilene Christian for three seasons, and spent the last four years as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at South Dakota Mines.

Gent fills the void left by Brandon Clayton's departure. Clayton, a former Bearcat defensive back and assistant coach for nine seasons, accepted the defensive coordinator role at Saginaw Valley State this off-season.

Novak, a Rock Springs, Wyoming product, played at Chadron State and Black Hills State, and earned a master's at Northwest in 2018. He was a graduate assistant at Black Hills State for two seasons working with safeties, then worked as the defensive coordinator at MidAmerica Nazarene in 2019 under Todd Sturdy, Northwest's current offensive coordinator. Novak also coached at Wayne State for three seasons leading the defensive line and defensive backs, as well as the special teams coordinator role.

Novak slides into a position previously filled by Zach Martin. Martin, a former Bearcat quarterback before joining the coaching staff for six years, took a position at Northwestern University as an analyst and quality control coach.

The Bearcats are currently working through spring practices and will host their annual Spring Game on April 13 at Bearcat Stadium.