Jan 09, 2020 10:34 PM

Bearcat football hires Todd Sturdy as new offensive coordinator

Posted Jan 09, 2020 10:34 PM

Northwest Missouri State University head football coach Rich Wright reached into his coaching past to tab Todd Sturdy as the new offensive coordinator for the Bearcats.

Sturdy and Wright worked together on the same coaching staff at St. Ambrose from 2000-2004 before Wright made the move to Northwest. Wright served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at St. Ambrose during Sturdy's head coaching tenure.

Sturdy will serve as the offensive coordinator at Northwest and he brings a wealth of coaching experience with him to Maryville. Sturdy has coached football at the FBS, FCS and NAIA levels for 28 years. He has served as an offensive coordinator in 20 seasons. In 14 seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level, Sturdy has compiled a record of 96-51.

Sturdy served as the head coach at MidAmerica Nazarene in 2018 and 2019. He guided the Pioneers to a 7-4 mark in the Heart of America Conference this past season.

He is a native of Tipton, Iowa, and produced a mark of 85-40 in 12 seasons as a head coach at his alma mater, St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa from 1995-2006. Sturdy guided the Fighting Bees to six conference championships and six NAIA playoff appearances. He coached 64 first-team all-conference performers and 28 All-America picks while his players rewrote the offensive school records in virtually every category.

Sturdy gained assistant coaching and coordinator experience at the FBS and FCS levels following his time at St. Ambrose. Sturdy worked at Eastern Washington (OC, 2007), Washington State (OC, 2008-2011), Iowa State (assistant/OC, 2012-2015), Northern Iowa (OC, 2016).

He began his coaching endeavors as a graduate assistant in 1990 at St. Ambrose.

As a student-athlete at St. Ambrose from 1987-1990, Sturdy earned his bachelor's degree in history education. In 1988, he was named the team MVP. In 1989, he served as team captain.

He and his wife, Gina, are the parents of sons Keegan, Carson and a daughter, Kenzington.

--- Northwest Athletics ---

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Jan 09, 2020 10:34 PM
Griffons fall on the road at Washburn 86-76
Griffons fall on the road at Washburn 86-76

TOPEKA, Kan. - Washburn took nearly three times as many free throws as the Griffon Men's Basketball team Thursday night, and made five times more than Missouri Western in an 86-76 win for the Ichabods.

Washburn went 26 of 32 from the line all night, but none were more important than the Ichabods 10 for 10 stretch over the final minute of play. Missouri Western used a 9-0 run to get within four points of the Ichabods with a little over a minute to go, but had to start fouling and Washburn made them pay.

Alex John fouled out on a technical foul with 7:16 left and about 20 seconds later, Tyrell Carroll was whistled for a technical after making a shot to pull the Griffons within two, 67-65. From there, Washburn went on a 9-0 run to stake a 76-65 lead. Five Tyus Millhollin points and a Tyree Martin jumper later, the Griffons were within four, but the Washburn free throw run got started from there.

Missouri Western jumped out to a seven point lead early in the game, but Washburn went to the half up by 10 thanks to a 14-0 run late in the half. The Griffons used a 10-0 run in the middle of the second half and led 63-61 with 9:26 to go before Washburn answered with a 15-2 run.

NOTABLES

- Along with John, Will Eames fouled out late in the game and Tyree Martin ended the game with four fouls. John and Martin played a combined 26 minutes due to foul trouble throughout the game.

- Martin (9) and John (4) combined for 13 points. Washburn scored 40 points in the paint, 10 more than Missouri Western.

- After Washburn shot 50% from the field in the first half, the Ichabods shot 42.3% in the second. The Griffons shot 42.5% in the second half after a 39.4% first.

- Missouri Western was out-rebounded 49-36.

- Tyrell Carroll tied an MWSU record with 24 field goal attempts. He led MWSU with 23 points and five assists. Carroll played all 40 minutes, turning the ball over just once and adding four rebounds.

- Tyus Millhollin continued his recent tear, scoring 22 points with a team-high three steals.

- Will Eames pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and scored 14 points.

UP NEXT

Barring any changes due to the threat of a winter storm, Missouri Western will play at Emporia State (8-5, 2-2) on Saturday. The Hornets lost at home Thursday night, 71-56 to Northwest Missouri State.

--- MWSU Athletics ---

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