Mike Rigell

Biography

Updated December 2025 Mike Rigell serves as the Receivers and Returners Coach at the University of Northern Colorado, joining Head Coach Ed Lamb’s staff in February 2024. Rigell brings extensive coaching experience across multiple levels of football, including collegiate, the CFL, and the NFL. During the 2025 season, Rigell oversaw the development of one of the most productive wide receivers in Northern Colorado history in Carver Cheeks. Cheeks delivered a breakout campaign, finishing with 71 receptions, the third-most in a single season in program history, while his 929 receiving yards ranked 10th all-time. His six receiving touchdowns tied for the 15th-most in a season, and his three 100-yard receiving games tied for 10th in a single season. Cheeks also climbed the career record book, finishing the year ranked 14th in career receptions (93) and 16th in career receiving yards (1,274). His performance earned First Team All-Big Sky honors, highlighting Rigell’s impact on receiver development in his first season with the Bears. Before coming to UNC, Rigell was selected for the Calgary Stampeders internship in the Canadian Football League (CFL), serving as a Wide Receivers and Special Teams Guest Coach. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Simon Fraser University from 2019 to 2023, overseeing all aspects of the program, including recruiting, academics, budgeting, hiring, scheduling, team travel, fundraising, equipment procurement, and alumni and community engagement. Before h