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Aug. 5, 2025MARYVILLE, Mo.

Bearcat offense forming cohesive unit under McMenamin

Northwest head coach John McMenamin is trying to do more than just implement a new playbook.

Northwest head coach John McMenamin is trying to do more than just implement a new playbook.

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The view at Northwest Missouri State fall camp hasn't changed much with the same green helmets flying around Mel Tjeerdsma Field, but a different voice has taken hold of the team. It's one that senior running back Jadon Brady and teammates are embracing.

"Obviously it’s a big shift," Brady said, "but I think a lot of guys are on board for it."

New Bearcat head coach John McMenamin’s background is on the offensive side as an All-MIAA quarterback at Northwest, and more recently as the coordinator that led record-setting seasons at the University of Central Missouri and Tulane.

And McMenamin is already seeing progress from the Bearcat unit he’s trying to mold.

"Offense came out a little bit hotter (Monday)," McMenamin said. "That was good to see. I thought the quarterbacks threw the ball really, really well, and the wideouts made plays when they had a chance to."

Northwest has struggled on that side of the ball in recent seasons. In 2024, the Bearcats led the MIAA in red zone turnovers and averaged fewer than 30 points per game for only the third time in the last 20 years.

More than just the Xs and Os, McMenamin is trying to build something more within the group.

"I think just the togetherness, especially as the offense," Brady said. "I feel like you see the defense every gameday, every practice they’re flying around. The offense hasn’t had that for a while. Ever since we came out in the spring, and especially day one here today, I think you saw it a lot."

There’s an emphasis on bringing positivity and energy to the field that begins with the coaches and rubs off on the players.

"We talk about being a band of brothers and being together on everything we do, and we’re only as strong as each other. We know we have to lift each other up and be tight, and so as a group we’re all we have," McMenamin said.

There is plenty of teaching and hard lessons learned as they try to build the next great offense, but McMenamin believes trust is at the root of a successful program.

"I think our guys understand that and know that it’s trust, it’s love, it’s coming from a good spot. At the end of the day we want a team win, we don’t want individual wins. When a bunch of dudes come together and nobody cares who gets the credit – you’re playing with fire."