Brandan Rivers joined the Mercyhurst University football staff in 2026, working with the Lakers’ defensive backs as the program continues its transition to the NCAA Division I level.
Rivers brings collegiate coaching and playing experience across multiple levels of NCAA football, with a background specializing in defensive back development, opponent scouting, strength and conditioning, and defensive game planning. His coaching approach emphasizes technique, discipline, film study, ball production, and the development of complete student-athletes.
Prior to arriving at Mercyhurst, Rivers coached defensive backs and assisted with strength and conditioning at PennWest Edinboro. During the 2025 season, he helped the Fighting Scots finish 7-4 overall and 5-1 in PSAC West play, earning a share of the program’s first PSAC West Championship since 2005. Edinboro finished third in the PSAC in scoring defense at 22.3 points per game, fourth in total defense at 333.6 yards per game, and third in rushing defense at 123.0 yards per game. The secondary recorded nine interceptions and held opposing quarterbacks to a 59.2 percent completion rate. Rivers also helped develop First-Team All-PSAC West safety Nate Deanes.
In addition to coaching the secondary, Rivers contributed to Edinboro’s defensive pass-game planning and weekly opponent preparation. His responsibilities included scheme installation, opponent analysis, Hudl breakdowns, scouting reports, film exchange, and game-day tendency tracking. Rivers developed a quarterback spray-chart system designed to identify quarterback tendencies, release habits, and target patterns.
Before Edinboro, Rivers spent two seasons coaching defensive backs at Thiel College. In 2023, the Tomcats ranked fifth in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in total defense at 311.2 yards allowed per game while limiting opponents to 180.9 passing yards per game and a 55.9 percent completion rate. The defense generated 14 interceptions in 10 games that season and totaled 35 takeaways across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns. Rivers coached two-time All-PAC Honorable Mention defensive back Justin Logan and was also involved with special teams and strength and conditioning.
Rivers’ coaching background also includes experience at Hubbard High School in Ohio, where he coached wide receivers and defensive backs and served as head strength coach. During his time at Hubbard, he helped more than six members of the 2023 senior class advance to play football at the NCAA Division I, II, and III levels.
In addition to football, Rivers has extensive experience in strength and conditioning and track and field. He served as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Thiel College after previously coaching the program’s sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers. His background in speed development, plyometrics, movement mechanics, and sport-specific strength training contributes to his approach to developing defensive backs.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Rivers began his collegiate playing career at West Virginia University, where he spent three seasons as a defensive back. He later transferred to Edinboro University, where he played safety, linebacker and special teams. As a senior, Rivers was voted a team captain and finished the season with 35 tackles, an interception, four pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In the final game of his collegiate career, he returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown.
Rivers earned his Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from Edinboro University, with a concentration in Sport Administration and Recreation and a minor in Business Administration.
