Northern Michigan football opened preseason camp Thursday, Aug. 6, in Marquette, according to WZMQ 19. It was the first time the Wildcats practiced under new head coach Matt Janus.

It marks the start of a rebuild. Janus replaces Shane Richardson, who resigned Nov. 7, 2025, with a 1-30 record over nearly three seasons. The program closed 2025 with two wins under interim coach Billy Lindquist, both games topping 40 points, but the overall trajectory left NMU searching for a reset.

Janus, named the program's 24th head coach on Jan. 5, arrived from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he went 45-14 in six seasons and made five consecutive NCAA Division III playoff appearances. He won back-to-back Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in 2022 and 2023, going undefeated in conference play in 2023 as the Eagles finished 11-2 and reached the Division III quarterfinals for the first time since 1996. He was named WIAC Coach of the Year both seasons.

"My family and I are beyond thrilled to be joining the Wildcat family and the Marquette community," Janus said in January when his hiring was announced. "... Those paths — after some twists and turns — eventually led me here to Northern Michigan."

He named defensive coordinator Ryan Bright and offensive coordinator Peter "Boomer" Roepke at his Jan. 9 introductory press conference, according to NMU Athletics.

Janus takes over a roster that produced standout individual seasons in 2025. Running back Noah Dobert set the NMU single-season rushing record with 1,681 yards, finishing third nationally in Division II. His 406-yard, four-touchdown performance against Wayne State broke a program single-game mark that had stood since 2007. On defense, linebacker Jax Hertel led the GLIAC with 14.5 tackles for loss and earned All-GLIAC First Team honors.

The gap between NMU and the conference's top tier was on full display in the 2025 Miner's Cup. Michigan Tech routed the Wildcats 56-17 on Oct. 23, averaging 9.0 yards per play to NMU's 4.7. The Huskies have dominated the rivalry for more than a decade.

GLIAC coaches picked NMU sixth out of eight teams in the preseason poll released at Media Day on July 24, with 18 points. Ferris State topped the poll with 49 points and seven first-place votes. Michigan Tech was third.

The 2026 schedule features 11 games with five home dates at the Superior Dome. The game circled on every Wildcat fan's calendar: the 24th Miner's Cup, Saturday, Oct. 17, at Michigan Tech's Kearly Stadium in Houghton.