Preston Hadley joined the Bears in December 2022 from BYU. He served as the Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach during the 2023 season before transitioning to Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He enters his fourth season in that role in 2026, continuing to guide the Bears’ defensive growth and development.
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Under Hadley’s direction in 2025, Northern Colorado’s defense made significant, measurable improvements across nearly every major statistical category. The Bears reduced their scoring defense from 37.5 points per game to 28.4, while also lowering total yards allowed per game from 468.1 to 407.3. UNC improved its passing defense, cutting opponent passing yards from 243.9 to 211.6 per game, and held quarterbacks to a 124.6 pass efficiency rating, down from 159.3 the previous season. The Bears also showed improvement in situational execution, reducing third-down conversion percentage from 46.8% to 37.7%, while nearly doubling their sack total from nine to 17 and increasing takeaway production to 16 total takeaways. Individual development was highlighted by Cam Chapa’s First Team All-Big Sky selection and Hudson Voggesser’s Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors, reflecting continued progress across all three levels of the defense.
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A respected strategist and recruiter, Hadley also participated in the inaugural Tampa Bay Buccaneers National Coaching Academy in May 2024, a milestone that reflects his emergence as a rising coaching talent at the FBS and FCS levels.
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During his time at BYU, Hadley was part of a program that posted a 53-24 overall record, including 10-3 and 11-1 seasons, contributing to defensive units that consistently ranked among the nation’s best.
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No stranger to the Big Sky Conference, Hadley previously coached at Weber State, serving as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2017, he helped guide the Wildcats to a Big Sky Conference championship, a school-record 11 wins, and two victories in the FCS Playoffs. That season, Hadley coached Taron Johnson, the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team Associated Press FCS All-American, while three defensive backs earned all-conference honors. Weber State’s 2017 defense led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, and red zone defense, while ranking top 25 nationally in nine statistical categories, including No. 6 in interceptions, No. 8 in total turnovers, No. 9 in red zone defense, No. 13 in pass efficiency defense, and No. 16 in scoring defense.
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In 2016, Hadley helped Weber State produce the top passing defense in the Big Sky, as the Wildcats finished 7-5, placed third in conference play, and earned the program’s first FCS playoff appearance in seven years, coaching two all-conference defensive backs.
Hadley graduated from BYU in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and earned his master’s degree in athletic administration from Concordia-Irvine in 2016.
University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Football
Preston Hadley
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator | Linebackers
- Email:
- unc_football@unco.edu
- Phone:
- 970.351.3046
updated December 2025
| Year | School | Position |
| 2013 | BYU | Graduate Assistant |
| 2014 | BYU | Graduate Assistant |
| 2015 | Santa Ana College | Cornerbacks, Kick/Punt return, Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2016 | Weber State | Secondary Coach, Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2017 | Weber State | Secondary Coach, Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2018 | BYU | Safeties Coach |
| 2019 | BYU | Safeties Coach |
| 2020 | BYU | Defensive Ends/Hybrids Coach |
| 2021 | BYU | Defensive Ends/Hybrids Coach |
| 2022 | BYU | Defensive Ends/Hybrids Coach |
| 2023 | Northern Colorado | Defensive Coordinator | Safeties |
| 2024 | Northern Colorado | Defensive Coordinator | Linebackers |
| 2025 | Northern Colorado | Defensive Coordinator | Linebackers |
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