John Litrenta enters his fourth season leading the East Central University football program in 2026. Litrenta was named the 20th head football coach in ECU history on November 13, 2023, after assuming interim duties in December 2022 following the resignation of former head coach Kris McCullough.
Under Litrenta’s leadership, the Tigers have continued to build a competitive program, earning postseason recognition and success both on the field and in the classroom. In 2025, ECU finished with a 6-6 overall record and made history by competing in the inaugural First Americans Bowl against Northeastern State University. The opportunity to compete in December marked a significant milestone for the program, while the bowl game celebrated the cultural significance and representation of Indigenous and minority athletes.
The Tigers earned 23 All-Great American Conference (GAC) selections in 2025, along with 18 Academic Honor Roll honorees and one Elite Scholar Athlete, demonstrating the program’s commitment to excellence in competition and academics.
In 2024, ECU finished the season with a 5-6 record and produced 13 All-GAC selections and 15 All-Academic honorees. Specialist Brandon Perez earned AFCA Division II Second Team All-America honors and was also selected to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Second Team Offense, adding to the program’s postseason accolades.
During his first season at the helm in 2023, Litrenta guided four players to All-GAC Second Team honors: senior wide receiver Dior Scott, senior running back Miles Davis, senior linebacker Devon Roush and senior safety Jimmy Pitts. Four additional Tigers earned All-GAC Honorable Mention recognition: junior running back David Hall, senior offensive lineman Colby Thomas, fifth-year defensive lineman Darian Williams and junior cornerback Gio Waller.
Before becoming head coach, Litrenta established himself as a key leader of the Tigers’ defense. In 2022, he helped guide ECU to a top-10 national ranking in pass defense while leading nine players to All-Conference recognition, one All-American in Devon Roush and two All-Region selections in Roush and Cody Alexander. The Tigers’ defense also ranked first in the GAC in scoring defense, sacks and third-down defense. In 2021, he coached three players to All-Conference honors.
Litrenta joined the East Central University coaching staff in 2018 as the outside linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020.
Before arriving at ECU, Litrenta served as a defensive quality control coach at the University of South Dakota from March 2016 through the 2017 season. His responsibilities included assisting the defensive coordinator with safety meetings and on-field evaluations, working with the team’s video editing system and recruiting junior college and high school prospects.
In 2015, Litrenta served as defensive backs coach at the College of DuPage in Illinois, helping lead the Chaparrals to an 8-2 record and a No. 9 national ranking. The team’s secondary recorded 18 interceptions, the eighth-highest total in the nation.
A three-year starter at linebacker for Olivet Nazarene University, Litrenta recorded 212 tackles and three interceptions during his playing career. A native of Orland Park, Illinois, he earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation and sport fitness from Olivet Nazarene in 2015 and completed his master’s degree in sports management at the University of South Dakota in the summer of 2017.
