GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota head football coach Eric Schmidt announced the hires of Malik Bradshaw and D.J. Davis to the 2025 UND football staff on Wednesday. Bradshaw will coach the wide receivers, while Davis will be in charge of the running backs.
"We were able to add two of the finest coaches in the country to complete our staff," said Coach Schmidt.
Malik Bradshaw
Bradshaw joins the Fighting Hawks as the wide receivers coach in 2025 after spending the 2020-24 seasons at Augustana as the running backs coach and coach of the kick and punt returners.
He began his time at Augustana in 2020 as a graduate assistant before being promoted to a full-time assistant coach and co-video coordinator. During his time at AU, the Vikings captured the NSIC title three times (2021, 2023, 2024). He also coached Jarod Epperson, who became the all-time leading rusher in Augustana history with 4,216 yards in his career.
From 2018-20, he served as a student assistant at Oklahoma and worked under Roy Manning and Kerry Cooks. He scouted opponent film, identified key players and their tendencies, created sideline play boards for defensive players and the coaching staff and developed scouting reports in that role.
Before getting into coaching, Bradshaw was a four-year wide receiver for the Sooners. During his playing days, he helped OU win four Big 12 Conference titles and played in four of the New Year's six bowl games (Sugar, Rose, Orange and Peach).
Bradshaw graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications at Oklahoma in 2000 before earning a master's degree in sports administration and leadership at Augustana in 2022.
Coach Schmidt on Bradshaw
"Malik is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football and an elite teacher of the game. He does a phenomenal job connecting with his players."
D.J. Davis
Davis joins UND as the running backs coach after previously serving as the running backs coach at Lenoir-Rhyne.
With the help of his leadership in 2024, the LRU Bears reached the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs with a record of 10-3. Throughout the year, his running backs averaged 111.7 yards rushing per game. Alex Boyd, the leading rusher on the team, ranked No. 5 in the conference in rushing touchdowns (8) at the end of the season.
Before his time at Lenoir-Rhyne, Davis served as a graduate assistant at Charleston Southern in 2022 and was a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois in 2023. Under his direction, the Salukis reached the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2023.
He received his start in coaching as a running backs coach for Deerfield Beach High School in 2020 and held that position until 2022.
Prior to coaching, Davis was a running back for the Salukis and totaled 2,697 career rushing yards. His career rushing mark currently sits No. 5 in school history and he also hauled in 112 career receptions, which sits No. 11 in SIU history. He piled up five 100-yard rushing games as a senior and graduated from Southern Illinois in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He is currently working on his master's degree in sports administration at SIU.
Coach Schmidt on Jones
"We are thrilled to add Coach Davis to our staff. He has firsthand knowledge of the league and will continue to elevate the running back room."
For more information on North Dakota football, follow on social media @UNDfootball or visit FightingHawks.com.
