The Northeastern State University RiverHawks are an NCAA Division II Football program located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Hired in December of 2023, the NSU RiverHawks are led by Head Football Coach Darrin Chiaverini. 

Chiaverini came to NSU fresh off of a complete turnaround with Chaffey College in California- going 11-0 in 2023, winning both their conference and a bowl game in just one year as a Head Coach. At NSU- he coaches the RiverHawks with an extensive background, from his 7 year professional playing career down to this successful stints as an assistant with colleges and universities of the likes of Mt. San Antonio, Riverside CC, UCLA, Texas Tech and his alma mater Colorado.

In 2024, as the NSU RiverHawks Head Coach, Chiaverini already brought change, and the shift in culture had been felt across campus, in Tahlequah and beyond. 

While their record just stood at 2-9 on the season, the 2024 football season at NSU marked the first time since 1999 with multiple 50+ point games, their 41 touchdowns scored and 28 points per game average on the season was the most since the 2011 season while they also averaged 44 points per game at home in Doc Wadley Stadium and took the ball away from opposing offenses a combined 22 times on the season.

Head Coach Darrin Chiaverini's staff, which headlines Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Junior Tanuvasa and Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach Jeremy Atwell  provides NSU's football players with their extensive coaching experiences. 

All full-time staffers at NSU have NCAA Division 1 experience as a player or a coach.

Over recent years, Northeastern State University has struggled on the football field. With a historic background though- 2 National Championships, 21 Conference Championships, and 95 All-Americans calling Tahlequah their home, Head Coach, Darrin Chiaverini looks to bring that winning culture back to NSU.

Alongside the school's 2 National Championships, 21 Conference Championships and 95 All-Americans, NSU has also been the product of 16 NFL Draft picks since the year 1947.

The Chev Effect

In just one year as the Head Football Coach at Northeastern State University, Coach Chev (Darrin Chiaverini) has made his presence felt on campus, in Tahlequah and beyond, turning the RiverHawks football program around.

While a 2-9 record in 2024 did not bring the RiverHawks to a playoff and championship run, which continues to be the goal, there were a number of improvements and changes seen within the program. Those improvements include some individual player success and acknowledgments. RiverHawks tight end, Cameron Woods was named the program's first All-American since the 2011 season, and the first in the Coach Chev era. Woods finished the season with 37 receptions for 573 yards and a team lead 7 receiving touchdowns. Alongside Woods in the RiverHawks offensive attack is wide receiver Deuce Roberson, who led the team in receptions and receiving yards with a total 50 receptions, 632 yards and 5 touchdowns, true freshman running back Ramon McKinney Jr., who, in just the final 6 games of the season had 811 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns, and quarterback Dereun Dortch was responsible for 2,248 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground and through the air.

Having coached and recruited several NFL players over his tenure as a coach in the NCAA- Darrin Chiaverini hopes to elevate his current and future RiverHawks players to the professional stage, staying true to the four pillars he has been building the NSU Football program on: recruitment, retention, development and graduation.

Our Campus

Northeastern State University has a 17:1 student to faculty ratio

80 percent of NSU's 2020 graduates are currently employed or continuing their education

Aside from the available degrees listed above, Northeastern State University also offers multiple Optometry degrees from their very own Optometry School. The only Optometry School in the state of Oklahoma, and one of just 23 in the United States

"FCA, or Fellowship of Christian Athletes, meet on NSU’s campus every Thursday evening, where athletes gather for praise and worship. Hearing testimonies from student athletes on how Christ has impacted their lives and listen to former coaches as well. Each meeting is followed by free ice cream from our sponsor Braum’s. FCA also hosts additional events throughout the year including game nights and celebrations."

- Juwan Dancy, FCA Leader & NSU Defensive Back

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