Meet the Coaches
Rick Little, Head Coach
Coach Little is an alumnus of Carthage High School and was an All-State quarterback for the Blueboys his senior year. He played at Augustana College before transferring to Blackburn College where he was team captain, pre-season All-American and is their all-time leading passer. Coach Little continues to hold 15 single season/career records at Blackburn College. Little also played in the indoor arena football league where he was the starting quarterback for the Flint (MI) Flames, St. Louis Renegades and the Show Me Believers. Little has coached at Edwardsville High School, Hamilton High School and Quincy Senior High School. Coach Little started his head coaching career at Hamilton High School where he led the team to the playoffs in his first year, breaking a 10 year playoff absence. In 2006, his team finished with an 11-1 record, winning the conference championship and advancing to the state 3A quarterfinals. As a coach for the Blue Devils, Little has led the team to 11 state playoff appearances. The 2023 and 2024 teams were undefeated in the regular season, Western Big 6 Conference Champions and made it to the elite 8 in class 7A playoffs. Little has received “Coach of the Year” awards from the Burlington Hawkeye in 2006 and the Quincy Herald Whig in 2009. Coach Little has a MA in Education from Lindenwood University and a MA in Administration from William Woods University. He currently is a Dean of Students at Quincy High School. Coach Little and his wife, Julie, reside in Quincy and have three children; Bradyn, Brooklyn and Bryson.
Varsity Coaches
Brian Lewton
Assistant Varsity Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Coach Lewton is an alumnus of Monroe City High School in Monroe City, MO where he played quarterback and led his team to the 2A state championship game. After high school he attended the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, KS. While there, he was a four year starter at QB, WR and FS. Coach Lewton was named as National Player of the Week his senior year. He holds a BS degree in Information Technology and Sociology as well as his teaching degree. Lewton was previously Head Coach at West Hancock. He is a Dean at The Academy. His family includes wife Michel, son Preston and daughter, Landry.
Mason Swisher
Assistant Varsity Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Coach Swisher is in his first season at Quincy High School after spending the last four seasons at Kirksville Missouri High School. At QHS, he will serve as the defensive coordinator, linebacker coach and teach biology. He is a veteran coach with experience at both high school and college levels. Previous high school coaching stops include Kirksville, Sapulpa (OK), Jefferson City, Blair Oaks, Unity, KC Washington, Shawnee Mission North (KS) and Highland (MO) where he was the head coach from 2014-2016. Collegiate coaching stops include Benedictine College, Quincy University, Sam Houston State University and Culver-Stockton College. During his coaching career, he has been a part of three state champions, one state runner up and 8 district or league champion teams. Coach Swisher holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Pittsburg State University (KS) and a Master of Education degree from Louisiana State University - Shreveport. He has two adult children, Kelly and Ross.
Ryan Wiemelt
Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Wiemelt is entering his thirteenth year as assistant coach. Coach Wiemelt is a graduate of Quincy Notre Dame High School where he was a two year varsity football starter and a captain during his senior season. After graduating, Coach Wiemelt earned a history education degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and later an Education Administration degree from William Woods University. Coach Wiemelt began his coaching career at Marquette High School in Alton, Illinois for three seasons and had spent six seasons as an assistant at Quincy Notre Dame before joining the Blue Devil staff. He is currently a Drivers Education teacher at Quincy High School. Coach Wiemelt and his wife Jill, have two sons, and a daughter.
Daron Wildrick
Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Wildrick is entering his eighteenth year as a coach with the Blue Devils. He is a Hamilton alumnus and has a wealth of knowledge and energy to provide the Blue Devils. He was the head Freshman coach from 2012-2015. Currently, he teaches Driver's Education at QHS. Coach Wildrick graduated from Western Illinois University and holds his MA in Administration from William Woods University.
Brigham John
Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach John is an alum of Macomb High School where he was an outside linebacker and running back. He then went on to Lincoln College and Western Illinois University to pursue his baseball career. He earned his bachelor’s degree from WIU with emphasis in Special Education and Sports Management. Coach John then went back to his alma mater and was the freshmen head baseball coach and junior high head football coach. He and his wife moved to Quincy in 2007 where he joined Quincy Public Schools in 2012. He was the head baseball coach from 2012 until 2017. Coach John is currently an SSFL at The Academy here in Quincy and brings over 20+ years of coaching to the program.
Marty Smith
Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Smith is a 2007 graduate of Quincy High School where he was a two time All Conference award winner and All Area award winning offensive tackle. Coach Smith continued his education at the University of Illinois where he earned a history degree, wrestled for five years for the Illini, and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. After six years of active duty service, Coach Smith ended his Army career as a Captain and moved back to Quincy. After returning to Quincy, he worked as a substitute teacher for Quincy Public Schools and became an assistant coach for the Blue Devil Wrestling program. Currently, Coach Smith is teaching at Quincy Senior High and attending Quincy University to obtain his Master’s of Education degree. His family includes his amazing wife, Michelle, and dog child, Brittney.
Ben Failor
Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Failor is a 2003 graduate of Quincy High School where he played football. After high school, he attended Western Illinois University and graduated with a degree in Law Enforcement. He has worked in the mental health field for the last fifteen years, and earned his Masters of Education in Counseling. For the last twelve years, he has been a registered IHSA and MSHSAA football official. Last year, (2022), his crew officiated a state final. Coach Failor’s family includes his wife Lesley, and sons Connor and Carter.
Adam Holtschlag
Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Holtschlag is a 2003 graduate of Quincy Senior High School. He has been part of the Blue Devil football program since 2021. He began his coaching journey at the Junior High as the defensive back coach. He earned an Associates degree from John Wood Community College and a Bachelors in Management from the University of Wisconsin - Stout. He currently works at Quincy Senior High School as a Special Education teacher in the History department and is pursuing his Masters in Special Education at Quincy University. He and his wife Ashley reside in Quincy with their four amazing kids.
Kirkland Burton
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Kirkland Burton “Coach Kirk” will be entering his sixth season as a Strength and Conditioning coach for the Blue Devils football program. Originally from St. Louis, Kirkland is a graduate of Mehlville Senior High School where he played running back for the football team. Kirkland has played defensive back and running back for Quincy University.
JV Coaches
Phil Neally
Head Sophomore Coach
Coach Neally has been with the Blue Devils for twenty five years. Coach Neally is also the QHS Head Wrestling Coach. He graduated from Culver-Stockton college with an elementary education/special education degree and has his Masters Degree in Athletic Administration from William Woods. Coach Neally and his wife Jennifer have two daughters, Abbie May and Maggie Ann.
Mike Klotz
Assistant Varsity Coach
Coach Klotz is originally from Millstadt, Illinois. He is a graduate of Oakville Senior High in St. Louis, Missouri where he was a four sport athlete playing football, soccer, baseball and hockey. He then went on to Quincy University where he was a four year starter as kicker for the football team. He earned GLVC first team all conference his senior year. He finished first in field goals, 10 for 14 and first in extra points, 49 for 49 which also broke the QU record. He graduated from Quincy University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and is currently teaching at Quincy HIgh School.