Bio

Jay Bright is entering his third season as a coach for the Bethel University Wildcats in 2023-24.

During the 2022 season, Bright served as the Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and
Quarterbacks Coach. Offensively Bethel University received numerous awards and accolades
including: a 2nd Team AP All-American, two AFCA Honorable Mention All-Americans, the Mid-South
Conference Offensive Player of the Year, nine Offensive All-Conference Selections (6 1st team) and
ranked top ten in the NAIA in Points per Game, Total Points, Total Yards, Total Touchdowns and
Passing Touchdowns.

Before joining the Bethel University coach staff, Bright spent three seasons (2018-2020) as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at University of the Cumberlands. During this time,
University of the Cumberlands reached the NAIA National Playoffs in two seasons and the offense
scored 43.5 points per game in 2018, which ranked fifth in the NAIA. Bright’s offense also produced the
Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2018), Conference Freshman Offensive Player of the Year
(2019), 16 All-Conference selections (9 first team) and 3 NAIA All-America selections.
 
Prior to joining the University of the Cumberlands staff, Bright spent four seasons coaching at NCAA
Division II Mississippi College where he coached the quarterbacks (2014-2015) and the wide
receivers (2016-2017). In 2014 and 2015, Bright coached two freshmen quarterbacks that were each
named Mississippi College Offensive Freshman of the Year. In 2016, Bright coached Marcel Newson
to become one of the most decorated wide receivers in school history.  Newson’s accomplishments
included: 2nd Team All-American WR, 1st Team All-Conference WR and KR, 5th in the nation in all-
purpose yards per game and multiple school records.
 
To get his coaching career started, Bright served as the Quarterbacks Coach at University of the
Cumberlands in 2013.  During the 2013 season, the Patriots advanced to the NAIA National
Championship game and were ranked number one in the country.  Under Bright’s coaching, freshman
quarterback Adam Craig led the NAIA in scoring and was named the MSC Freshman of the Year.
 
Bright is a graduate of University of the Cumberlands where he earned a Bachelor of Science and a
Mathematics degree. 
 
Bright spent three seasons as the starting quarterback for the Patriots.  For his career, Bright was a
part of four MSC championship teams, Academic All-Conference four times and All-Conference
Honorable Mention three times. In 2009, he was named UC's Offensive MVP, and he earned the
Patriot Award in 2011 and 2012. Bright completed his playing career with three school records:
touchdown passes in a game, career touchdown passes and career passing yards.
 
Bright is a native of Fayetteville, GA where he graduated from Whitewater High School. He and his
wife Mariah along with their daughter Whitley Kate and son Siler Cole reside in McKenzie.