Both coaches have experience at multiple levels
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University head football coach Matt Janus announced the hiring of Ryan Bright as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator and Peter ‘Boomer’ Roepke as the offensive coordinator at his introductory press conference on Friday.
Ryan Bright
Bright brings nearly a decade of collegiate coaching experience to Marquette, including stops in the Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC. He most recently served on the defensive staff at the University of Arkansas, where he worked with the Razorbacks’ safeties, nickels, and linebackers.
At Arkansas, Bright helped guide a defense that made significant strides in 2024, improving its national rushing defense ranking from 76th the previous season to 35th. The Razorbacks also earned a Liberty Bowl victory and recorded their first win over a top-five opponent since 2007. During the 2025 season, Bright served as interim linebackers coach from Weeks 6-12, with inside linebacker Xavian Sorey earning a Senior Bowl invitation.
Before Arkansas, Bright spent time as a defensive analyst at Stanford, working with outside linebackers during the 2023 season. He was also part of the Stanford staff that recorded notable wins against Colorado and Washington State.
Bright’s longest tenure came at the University of Wisconsin, where he served in multiple roles from 2018-23, including defensive graduate assistant and defensive analyst with the inside linebackers. During that span, the Badgers consistently ranked among the nation’s top defenses, including a No. 1 national ranking in total defense and rushing defense in 2021. Wisconsin won multiple bowl games during Bright’s time on staff, and several linebackers earned All-Big Ten and All-America honors.
Bright began his coaching career at St. Norbert College as quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator before a stint at Wisconsin-La Crosse, coaching tight ends and fullbacks. A former collegiate player, Bright earned letters at UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from La Crosse and a master’s degree from Wisconsin.
Peter ‘Boomer’ Roepke
Roepke brings extensive experience across multiple levels of college football, having coached at the Division I, II, III, and junior college ranks. His background includes offensive coordination, quarterback development, recruiting, and football operations, with a track record of building high-producing offenses and fostering strong player development.
This past season, Roepke served as interim head coach, offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and director of football operations at Concordia-St. Paul in Minnesota. Before that, since 2020, he was the associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, where he helped lead the program to undefeated UMAC conference championships in 2022 and 2024, along with two NCAA Division III playoff appearances. Under his leadership, the offense averaged more than 41 points per game in conference play during the 2024 season and produced multiple record-breaking individual performances.
Roepke also emphasized academic and personal development, launching a comprehensive grade-check and mentorship program that significantly improved student-athlete retention and produced numerous conference scholar-athletes. His recruiting efforts helped grow roster size, increase program diversity, and bring in the largest recruiting classes in school history.
Roepke’s Division I experience includes time at Iowa State University from 2017-20 as an offensive graduate assistant working with quarterbacks and special teams, as well as a graduate student coaching role at the University of Southern California from 2013-16. He also coached at Pasadena City College, contributing to player development and helping student-athletes advance to Division I opportunities.
A former student-athlete at USC, Roepke earned varsity letters in both football and swimming and was named the program’s “Walk-On Player of the Year” in 2011. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication, along with a master’s degree in youth development and business administration from Iowa State University.
