UMW Bulldogs Football Camps
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Ryan Nourse
Ryan Nourse is the 25th head coach of Montana Western football program. He begins his ninth season as head coach at Montana Western and has a 38-37 (.506) all-time record. He the most winningest coach in UMW history and has the second longest tenure. Nourse was named head coach in 2011 and guided the Bulldogs for two seasons, doubling the win total each season before leaving to serve as Athletic Director for three years. Since his return to the sidelines in the fall of 2016 his Bulldogs have been ranked or received votes in the Coaches Top-25 poll 41 times.
He has coached seven All-Americans, 47 All-Frontier Conference selections, 18 Daktronics Scholar-Athletes, 18 National Football Foundation Honor Society selections, four Academic All-District selections, and 181 Frontier Conference All-Academic Team selections.
Head Coach - Montana Western (2011-12, 16-Present)
2021 saw the Bulldogs finish 8-4 with an appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Opening Round. The Bulldogs finished with a share Frontier Conference Title and an overall conference record of 7-3. The Bulldogs were 14th in the nation averaging 38.6 points per game with an average of 449.9 yards per game. Wide Receiver Nate Simkins was 3rd in the nation in receptions with 83 total and 4th in the nation for touchdowns with 16 total. Quarterback Jon Jund was ranked 4th in the nation for touchdowns with 33 total.
2020-21 Due to COVID-19, the Frontier Conference moved the 2020 fall schedule to a modified spring 21 schedule. The Bulldogs opted out of the season.
2019 saw the Bulldogs finish 7-3 and second place in the Frontier. UMW was 7th in the nation averaging 39.2 points per game and averaged 288.3 yards per game through the air (8th in the nation). The offense averaged 433 yards per game (13th in the nation). Quarterback Jon Jund ranked second in the nation in total offensive yards per game ( 311.1) and linebacker Jason Ferris averaged 11.9 tackles per game (second in the nation). Ferris was named Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-American for the second straight year.
In 2018, the Bulldogs went 6-4 and tied for second in the conference. They averaged 28.8 points per game and 375 yards per game. linebacker Jason Ferris was named Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-American.
The Bulldogs went 4-7 in 2017. The Offense averaged 407 yards and 27.6 points per game.
In 2016 the Bulldogs finished 7-4, third in the conference and ranked 20th in the nation.
2012 saw another doubled win total as the Bulldogs finished with a 4-6 record, featuring two games that were one possession losses.
In 2011, Nourse took over a 1-10 team that had suffered seven double-digit defeats, and led them to a 2-9 overall record and a 2-8 record in the Frontier Conference. Including a 55-16 win over rival Montana Tech.
Athletic Director - Montana Western (2013-16)
During his three-year tenure as the Athletic Director, Montana Western added cross country and cheerleading as varsity sports. He has also been credited with growing athletic fundraising efforts including installing a corporate sponsorship program and significantly increasing revenue from the Bulldog Booster Bash, the Athletic Departments major fundraising event.
Assistant Coaching Career
Morningside College (2010-2011) Nourse served as the offensive coordinator. He also coached the quarterbacks and was the recruiting and camp coordinators. The offense ranked in the top-25 in total offense and scoring offense.
Truman State University (2008-2010) defensive coordinator and served as the linebackers coach and the academic coordinator.
Morningside College (2001-2008) Nourse spent his last six seasons (2003-2008) as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. During this stretch, he served as the strength and conditioning coordinator, recruiting coordinator and special teams coach. From 2004-2007 Nourse helped Morningside compile a 38-10 overall record and only allow 12 points per game on defense. The team also qualified for the NAIA National Playoffs every season, including quarterfinals appearances from 2005 to 2007 and three consecutive top-8 finishes in the NAIA rankings. In 2007, Nourse was named the American Football Coaches' Association Assistant Coach of the Year for his dedication to Mustang football and outstanding performances from his units.
Western State College (2000-2001) Nourse coached defensive backs.
Nourse also coached three years of high school football at Salmon High School in Salmon, Idaho.
Playing Career (Western Montana College)
Nourse played wide receiver at Montana Western from 1992-94, winning two Frontier Conference Championships and a trip to the 1994 NAIA national semifinals, His 1994 team is in the UMW Athletic Hall of Fame.
Personal
A native of Libby, Mont., Nourse earned a Bachelor of Science in history and political science education from Western Montana College (now the University of Montana Western) in 1997 and a Master of Arts in professional education from Morningside College in 2007. He is married to Tracy Nourse and they have two children; Olivia (18) and Eli (16).
Riley Martello
Defensive Coordinator
Head football coach Ryan Nourse announced the hiring of former Bulldog football player Riley Martello as the new defensive coordinator. Martello replaces Rob Goode who left to take a position at Loras College.
Martello was a standout linebacker for the Bulldogs who appeared in 29 total games and was a three-year team captain. He finished his career with 117 total tackles, nine and a half tackles for loss, four sacks and three interceptions including one for a touchdown. Was named the team's Special Teams Player of the year in 2015, earned Frontier Conference Defensive player of the week in 2018, and named the STEP player of the year (Team MVP) in 2018.
"I'm very honored and grateful to be back here at Montana Western," said Martello. "This university and football program gave me a chance and an opportunity to pursue my goals and passions. I'm excited to give back to all the current and future Dawgs to make this a great experience and to continue the Dawg traditions and standards."
Martello returns to Montana Western after a year at Montana Western followed by stops at Carroll College, Loras College and most recently Montana State University. He's married to former Bulldog women's basketball player Taylor Howlett and the couple is expecting their first child in June.
"Riley brings a ton of energy and enthusiasm to the position," Coach Ryan Nourse said. "His experience at UMW as a player and coach gives him a jump on starting the position and making an immediate impact. The program is fortunate to have a loyal, trustworthy and talented former Dawg to lead the defense."
Dylan Ramsey
Assistant Coach - Defensive Backs / Special Teams Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator
2022 will be Ramsey’s third season at Montana Western as the Defensive Backs coach and Special Teams Coordinator.
In 2019, he coached Defensive Backs and Special Teams at the University of Wiscosin-La Crosse. At UWL he coached an All-Region Safety as well as all conference performers at Punter, Returner and Long Snapper. UWL was also 5th in the nation at Kickoff Return Defense, allowing only 12.5yds per return.
Prior to UWL, he spent three seasons working at the Division 1 level with the Northern Illinois University football program. He worked with the Huskie wide receivers and special teams and assisted in scouting, and film breakdown while coaching the scout special teams. While at NIU, he mentored current NFL players, Chad Beebe (Vikings) and Kenny Golliday (Giants).
In 2015, Ramsey spent the season as the corner backs coach at North Carolina Wesleyan College. The Battling Bishops finished tied for second in the USA South Athletic Conference. Ramsey coached cornerback Bobby Tucker, who set a single-game school record with three interceptions against nationally-ranked Maryville College (Tenn.) October 10, 2015.
A graduate of the University of Dubuque (Iowa), Ramsey was a four-year letter winner for the Spartans at defensive back. The Urbana, Iowa native was a two-time all-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection during his career at Dubuque and a four-time All-IIAC Academic member. Ramsey prepped at Center Point-Urbana High School.
Jed Heffernan
Assistant Coach - Offensive Line / Run Game Coordinator
UMW (2020-Present)
2022 will be Heffernan's third season on the Bulldog coaching staff. He coaches the offensive line and is the run game coordinator.
Playing Career (Montana Western, Snow College)
Montana Western 2018-19 Heffernan started all 20 games at center at and served as team captain his senior year. He earned academic all Conference honors. Selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team and was named to the National Football Foundations Hampshire Honor Society.
Snow College 2016-17 Heffernan was named All- WSFL/ACCAC first-team as a center.
Personal
A Hauula, Hawaii native, Heffernan earned his bachelor degree in anthropology from Montana Western in 2019.
Kyle Wantland
Assistant Coach - Wide Receivers
Ryan Cook
Assistant Coach - Defensive Line
2022 will be Cook’s second season with Montana Western as the Defensive Line Coach.
Before Montana Western
Concordia University Wisconsin (2016-20) Cook was previously the Defensive Graduate Assistant and served as the Defensive Line Coach as well as many other aspects of the CUW Falcons Football Program. While spending four seasons with CUW, Cook coached multiple All-Conference Award winners for the Defensive Line as well as serving as the Defensive Coordinator and Co-Head Coach for the JV program at CUW.
Playing Career (Concordia University Wisconsin)
Cook was a four year letter winner at defensive end and also lettered in wrestling at 197 lbs. for the Falcons. While Cook was competing he was a part of multiple NACC championship teams in both Football (2013) and Wrestling (2013, 2014, 2015) as well as participating in the DIII Football National Playoff in 2013.
Personal
A Streamwood, Ill. native, Cook earned his bachelor degree in Physical Education and Educational Studies from CUW in 2016.
Trent Branch
Assistant Coach - Defensive Line / OLB's
Junior Mataafa
Assistant Coach - Runningbacks