University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Football
Justin Walterscheid
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator | Quarterbacks
- Email:
- unc_football@unco.edu
- Phone:
- 970.351.3046
updated December 2025
Justin Walterscheid completed his third season at Northern Colorado in 2025 after joining the Bears’ football staff in December 2022 and will coach his 18th season overall in 2026.
In December 2023, Walterscheid was named Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach after previously serving as the program’s Special Teams Coordinator.
Under Walterscheid’s direction in 2025, Northern Colorado’s offense produced multiple program milestones and one of the most significant wins in school history. Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. authored one of the most productive single seasons in UNC history, finishing with 2,533 passing yards, the 10th-most in a single season, while his 357 attempts ranked seventh all-time and his 233 completions ranked third. Gibson’s .653 completion percentage marked the second-best single-season figure in program history. He also delivered one of the top performances ever by a Bear quarterback in UNC’s 49-33 road victory at No. 13/11 Idaho, throwing for 397 yards, the ninth-most in a single game at UNC.
Walterscheid also oversaw the development of junior wide receiver Carver Cheeks, who produced one of the most prolific receiving seasons in program history. Cheeks recorded 71 receptions, the third-most in a single season, and 929 receiving yards, ranking 10th all-time. His six receiving touchdowns tied for 15th-most in a season, while his three 100-yard receiving games tied for 10th. Cheeks also climbed the career charts, ranking 14th in career receptions (93) and 16th in career receiving yards (1,274), earning First Team All-Big Sky honors.
In 2023, Walterscheid helped lead Northern Colorado’s special teams unit to a No. 3 national ranking in net punting. He also guided Hunter Green to a standout season, as the kicker/punter earned Third Team All-America, Jerry Rice Award finalist, FCS Freshman All-American, and First Team All-Big Sky honors while leading the Bears in scoring.
Walterscheid joined the Bears from Southern Utah, where he served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach from 2015-20. In 2017, he was part of his second Big Sky Championship team, helping lead SUU to the most Division I wins in school history and a trip to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. That season, the Thunderbirds averaged 33.6 points per game, totaled 5,249 yards of offense, and outscored opponents 403–336.
As quarterbacks coach, Walterscheid oversaw the development of Patrick Tyler, who in just two seasons broke into the Top 10 of the SUU record book in nearly every passing category, throwing for 2,801 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2017. Following the regular season, nine offensive players under Walterscheid earned All-Big Sky recognition, while offensive lineman Zach Larsen received multiple All-America honors and wide receiver Landen Measom was named a Freshman All-American.
Walterscheid took over as offensive coordinator at Southern Utah in 2015, the same year the Thunderbirds captured their first-ever Big Sky Conference Championship. In his debut game as OC, SUU defeated Sacramento State 44-0. The Thunderbirds featured one of the most explosive offenses in the FCS, as Ammon Olsen threw for 3,344 yards and 26 touchdowns, Mike Sharp recorded 54 receptions for 889 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Malik Brown rushed for 829 yards and eight touchdowns.
In 2016, under head coach Demario Warren, Walterscheid guided first-year starter Patrick Tyler to 2,296 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.
A 2005 Southern Utah graduate, Walterscheid returned to his alma mater in 2010 as running backs and tight ends coach before adding special teams coordinator to his responsibilities. His special teams units consistently ranked among the nation’s best, producing All-Americans, conference players of the year, and top national rankings in return and net punting categories.
A former receiver and return specialist for the Thunderbirds, Walterscheid led SUU in all-purpose yards in 2003 and finished second in 2004, ranking among the program’s career leaders in both punt and kickoff return yardage.
Walterscheid earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Southern Utah in 2005 and later added a degree in kinesiology from Mesa State College in 2008. He completed graduate work in sports management at the University of Utah, serving as a graduate assistant on the Utes’ 2009 Poinsettia Bowl championship team.
He has also spent time with Weber State, participated in Denver Broncos preseason camp, played for the Arizona Rattlers, served as an NFL Combine personal trainer, and worked as an offensive intern with the St. Louis Rams during the 2014 and 2015 summer camps.
Justin Walterscheid completed his third season at Northern Colorado in 2025 after joining the Bears’ football staff in December 2022 and will coach his 18th season overall in 2026.
In December 2023, Walterscheid was named Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach after previously serving as the program’s Special Teams Coordinator.
Under Walterscheid’s direction in 2025, Northern Colorado’s offense produced multiple program milestones and one of the most significant wins in school history. Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. authored one of the most productive single seasons in UNC history, finishing with 2,533 passing yards, the 10th-most in a single season, while his 357 attempts ranked seventh all-time and his 233 completions ranked third. Gibson’s .653 completion percentage marked the second-best single-season figure in program history. He also delivered one of the top performances ever by a Bear quarterback in UNC’s 49-33 road victory at No. 13/11 Idaho, throwing for 397 yards, the ninth-most in a single game at UNC.
Walterscheid also oversaw the development of junior wide receiver Carver Cheeks, who produced one of the most prolific receiving seasons in program history. Cheeks recorded 71 receptions, the third-most in a single season, and 929 receiving yards, ranking 10th all-time. His six receiving touchdowns tied for 15th-most in a season, while his three 100-yard receiving games tied for 10th. Cheeks also climbed the career charts, ranking 14th in career receptions (93) and 16th in career receiving yards (1,274), earning First Team All-Big Sky honors.
In 2023, Walterscheid helped lead Northern Colorado’s special teams unit to a No. 3 national ranking in net punting. He also guided Hunter Green to a standout season, as the kicker/punter earned Third Team All-America, Jerry Rice Award finalist, FCS Freshman All-American, and First Team All-Big Sky honors while leading the Bears in scoring.
Walterscheid joined the Bears from Southern Utah, where he served as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach from 2015-20. In 2017, he was part of his second Big Sky Championship team, helping lead SUU to the most Division I wins in school history and a trip to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. That season, the Thunderbirds averaged 33.6 points per game, totaled 5,249 yards of offense, and outscored opponents 403–336.
As quarterbacks coach, Walterscheid oversaw the development of Patrick Tyler, who in just two seasons broke into the Top 10 of the SUU record book in nearly every passing category, throwing for 2,801 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2017. Following the regular season, nine offensive players under Walterscheid earned All-Big Sky recognition, while offensive lineman Zach Larsen received multiple All-America honors and wide receiver Landen Measom was named a Freshman All-American.
Walterscheid took over as offensive coordinator at Southern Utah in 2015, the same year the Thunderbirds captured their first-ever Big Sky Conference Championship. In his debut game as OC, SUU defeated Sacramento State 44-0. The Thunderbirds featured one of the most explosive offenses in the FCS, as Ammon Olsen threw for 3,344 yards and 26 touchdowns, Mike Sharp recorded 54 receptions for 889 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Malik Brown rushed for 829 yards and eight touchdowns.
In 2016, under head coach Demario Warren, Walterscheid guided first-year starter Patrick Tyler to 2,296 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.
A 2005 Southern Utah graduate, Walterscheid returned to his alma mater in 2010 as running backs and tight ends coach before adding special teams coordinator to his responsibilities. His special teams units consistently ranked among the nation’s best, producing All-Americans, conference players of the year, and top national rankings in return and net punting categories.
A former receiver and return specialist for the Thunderbirds, Walterscheid led SUU in all-purpose yards in 2003 and finished second in 2004, ranking among the program’s career leaders in both punt and kickoff return yardage.
Walterscheid earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Southern Utah in 2005 and later added a degree in kinesiology from Mesa State College in 2008. He completed graduate work in sports management at the University of Utah, serving as a graduate assistant on the Utes’ 2009 Poinsettia Bowl championship team.
He has also spent time with Weber State, participated in Denver Broncos preseason camp, played for the Arizona Rattlers, served as an NFL Combine personal trainer, and worked as an offensive intern with the St. Louis Rams during the 2014 and 2015 summer camps.
| Year | School | Position |
| 2008 | Weber State | Defensive Assistant |
| 2009 | Utah | Offense Graduate Assistant |
| 2010 | Southern Utah | Running Backs / Tight Ends Coach |
| 2011 | Southern Utah | Running Backs / Tight Ends Coach / Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2012 | Southern Utah | Running Backs / Tight Ends Coach / Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2013 | Southern Utah | Co-Offensive Coordinator / Running Backs / Tight Ends |
| 2014 | Southern Utah | Assistant Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers |
| 2015 | Southern Utah | Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach |
| 2016 | Southern Utah | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach |
| 2017 | Southern Utah | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach |
| 2018 | Southern Utah | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach |
| 2019 | Southern Utah | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach |
| 2020 | Southern Utah | Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach |
| 2021 | BYU | Defense Analyst |
| 2023 | Northern Colorado | Special Teams Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator/Camp Direct |
| 2024 | Northern Colorado | Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach / Camp Director |
| 2025 | Northern Colorado | Offensive Coordinator / QBs Coach / Camp Director |
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