Billy Kirch is in his seventh year as a coach within the Red Raider football program and sixth as defensive coordinator. Kirch served as an assistant coach for the defense in 2015.
Family: wife - Natalie; children-Brady, Aubrey and Clayton
Alma Mater: South Dakota State (2006)
Playing Career: played four years for SDSU (2002-05)
Coaching Career:
2016-pres.: Defensive Coordinator, Northwestern
2015: Assistant Coach - Defense, Northwestern
2012-13: Head Coach, Forest Lake H.S.
2008-11 - Head Coach, Waverly-South Shore H.S.
Coaching Accomplishments:
Has coached one Cliff Harris Award winner (Sam Van Ginkel, 2016), three GPAC Defensive Players of the Year (Bryce Van Beek, 2018; Tanner Machacek, 2019; Parker Fryar, 2022), and nine All- Americans
2022 - Footballscoop.com NAIA Coordinator of the Year
2022 - helped guide the Red Raiders to their first national title since 1983
2021 - led the NAIA in interceptions (26) and defensive touchdowns (7)
2021 - ranked top-10 in the NAIA in yards allowed per game (272.5, 7th), opponent points per game (16.2, 10th), rush yards allowed per game (92.6, 10th)
2021 - led the GPAC in points allowed / game (16.2), total yards allowed / game (272.5), pass defense / game (179.9), interceptions (26), and defensive touchdowns (7)
2020 - ranked third in the GPAC in total defense / game
2020 - led the GPAC in rushing defense / game, second in the GPAC in pass defense / game
2019 - ranked second in the GPAC in scoring, pass and total defense
2018 - ranked second in the GPAC in scoring (20ppg), total (323), rush (126) and pass (197)
2017 - Red Raider defense ninth best in NAIA in ppg (20.1), 2nd best in GPAC
2017 - pass defense ranked 10th in NAIA (177.2ypg); 2nd best in GPAC
2017 - Red Raider defense third in the GPAC in total yards (361)
2016 - Red Raider defense that ranked third in run, pass and total
2016 - rush defense ranked near top 10 in the NAIA (121 ypg)
Other Coaching Notes:
2022 - Parker Fryar named GPAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-American (AFCA/AP/NAIA), Jaden Snyder earned All-American recognition (NAIA HM)
2021 - Noah Van't Hof (2nd Team, NAIA/AFCA), Parker Fryar (HM, NAIA), and Brett Moser (2nd Team, AP) earned All-American honors
2020 - Noah Van't Hof (2nd Team, NAIA/AFCA) earned All-American honors
2019 - Tanner Machacek named GPAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-American distinction (2nd Team, AP; HM, NAIA)
2018 - Bryce Van Beek named GPAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-American distinction (2nd Team, NAIA/AFCA)
2016 - Sam Van Ginkel won the Cliff Harris Award and earned All-American distinction (1st Team, NAIA/AFCA/VSN)
35 players have earned All-Conference honors:
2021 - 5
2020 - 5
2019 - 4
2018 - 6
2017 - 9
2016 - 6
