MSU Athletics

Rich Renner took over as the head coach of the Mustangs after 14 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Midwestern State. 
 
The defense thrived under his tutelage with the Mustangs advancing to the NCAA Division II postseason on six occasions (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017) while also appearing in the 2010 Kanza Bowl.
 
In the first year under Renner's direction in 2008, the defensive unit ranked 48th in NCAA Division II allowing 322.4 yards per game in 2008, but was 11th in the country as run stoppers allowing just 86.2 yards on the ground.
 
His 2009 defense ranked fourth in the country allowing fewer than 20 points in nine of 12 games as opponents averaged a miniscule 13.6 points a game. That season, the Mustangs boasted NCAA II's 39th best defense (312.5 yards per game) ranking 12th in pass efficiency defense (97.49) and 30th against the run (110.75 yards per game).
 
The Mustangs rated fourth in the LSC and 89th nationally in total defense (372.58 yards per game) in 2010 while ranking third in the league in scoring defense allowing just less than 24 points a game.
 
Midwestern boasted one of NCAA Division II's top rushing defenses allowing just under 113 yards per game in 2011. The Mustangs rated third in the LSC and 64th nationally in total defense (357.4 yards per game) and were second in the league and 43rd in the country in scoring defense allowing 23.4 points per game.
 
In 2012, MSU ranked fifth in the LSC and 83rd nationally in total defense (372.27 yards per game) while ranking fourth in the league and 67th in NCAA II in scoring defense permitting 25.4 points a game.

In the 2013 campaign, the Mustangs led the LSC and ranked 34th in total defense allowing 341.7 yards a game, while leading the league and ranking 46th in NCAA II in scoring defense allowing 23.9 points an outing.  MSU led the LSC and ranked 20th in pass efficiency defense with a 109.33 rating, led the LSC and was 25th nationally by allowing 188.5 passing yards a game, and led the LSC and ranked fourth in the Division II with a 1.5 turnover margin.

Midwestern's stout defense in 2014 ranking second in the LSC and 95th in NCAA Division II permitting 399.5 yards per game.

MSU topped the defensive charts playing a vital role in the Mustangs' 10-1 regular season run on the way to a LSC playoff title and a top seed in the NCAA Division II postseason. Midwestern led the LSC and ranked 80th nationally allowing 382.92 yards per game while holding the opposition to 23.4 points a contest.

The Mustangs boasted the top defense in the Lone Star Conference in 2015 holding the opposition to 382.9 yards per game (80th in NCAA Division II) while leading the league in scoring defense permitting 23.4 points per game (48th in NCAA Division II). The unit proved to be opportunistic forcing 29 turnovers (first in LSC, 21st nationally).
 
The Mustangs  ranked in the top four of the Lone Star Conference in total defense in eight of Renner's 14 seasons as a defensive coordinator while boasting the league's top defense in 2013 and 2015.
 
Always noted for developing raw talent, Renner's defenses produced four-year starter Marqui Christian, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

The 2015 Cliff Harris Award winner as the Small College Defensive Player of the Year also earned top defensive honors in the LSC and was the league's defensive player of the year.

Christian is one of five MSU defensive players to earn D2CCA All-America honors during Renner's tenure as coordinator.

Christian earned first-team honors in 2015 while teammates Daniel Laudermilk and Dominique Rouse took second-team accolades.

Cornerbacks Micah Hill (2009) and Neiko Conway (2013) were also second-team All Americans.

Renner's defenses have also produced 17 all-region performers and 16 all-conference first-teamers.
 
Renner, who coached the defensive line in 2006 and 2007 prior to his appointment as defensive coordinator, produced a pair of All-LSC South first-team performers in Justin Williams and Donial Arps, a second-teamer in Todd Zoglmann and Cody Thompson gained honorable mention during the Mustangs’ postseason run in 2006.
 
In 2007, the defensive line unit helped the Mustangs develop the best defense in the NCAA Division II’s Southwest Region in terms of total yards allowed and boasted three All-LSC South second-team performers in Zoglmann, Kellen Belcher and Justin Foyt while Stephen Turner garnered honorable mention.
 
Under Renner’s mentorship, the Mustangs’ defensive line was superb against the rush.
 
MSU rated tops in the conference in 2006 and 2007 and was 46th in NCAA Division II in 2006 allowing 108.8 yards per game and was 12th in 2007 yielding a stingy 93.9 yards a contest.
 
Before moving to Wichita Falls, Renner served as a linebacker and defensive line coach and was the video coordinator at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.
 
His other coaching experience included a stop at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. in 1999 after serving as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisville from 1997-99 where he helped the Cardinals to a Motor City Bowl appearance in 1998.

Playing Career

Renner showed true grit during his playing career at Louisville. He walked on in 1993 and before earning a scholarship for his final two seasons.

Personal

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Renner was a two-year letterman before earning his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and later a master’s degree in sports administration in 1999 at the University of Louisville.
 
Renner and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents to a daughter, Addison Grace and son Grant Michael.
 
The family resides in Wichita Falls.

The Renner File

Renner As Defensive Coordinator

* Average Yards Per Game
Numbers under NCAA II and LSC represent national and conference ratings.
¹ The 2020 season delayed to a shortened schedule played in the spring of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. No official LSC games were played.