QHS head coach Rick Little discusses path to realizing career dream

Published 10:36 am Monday, July 27, 2026

QUINCY – Most people don’t know in elementary school what they want to do for a living.

Rick Little was not one of them.

The acclaimed Quincy High School coach knew from the time he was in fifth grade what route his professional career would take.

And from that moment on, he immediately set out to pursue that goal.

Explaining that the mentors he looked up to at that early age were football coaches, he aspired to be like them. He has more than done that in the 27 years he has led young men on the football field.

“I became manager of the varsity football team when I was in the fifth grade,” Little said following a recent afternoon practice at Flinn Memorial Stadium.

From then on, he lived and breathed the sport and first carved out an extraordinary career as a player.

Little graduated from 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.

The Blue Devils’ leader 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.

“I was hoping to play in the NFL one day, but if not, I knew I was going to go into coaching,” he said.

And that’s exactly what he did.

As a player, the coach’s resume speaks for itself.

As impressive as those numbers are, his coaching resume is just as extraordinary, if not more so.

Over the past 27 years, Little has coached at Edwardsville High School and Hamilton High School before taking over as head coach for QHS in 2007. He 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. He has tallied an impressive 112-74 overall record with the Blue Devils since being hired in February 2007.

It’s a hire that the Blue Devils’ powers that be have surely never regretted.

As can be observed both during practices and on game nights, the players trust their coach and the decision making he brings from years of experience. That trust has been more than earned and is a testament to the man Little is both on and off the field.

He is also a man of his word. Following his playing days, he went into coaching and never looked back.

The head coach has an MA in education from Lindenwood University and a MA in administration from William Woods University. In addition to leading the Blue Devils, he is a Dean of Students at QHS. Little and his wife, Julie, have three children; Bradyn, Brooklyn and Bryson.

Both Bradyn and Bryson have followed in their father’s footsteps at quarterback. Bradyn posted record breaking numbers leading the Blue Devils during his high school years. He has parlayed that success to the college level and was named Freshman of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference during his freshman year as the signal caller for Quincy University. As for Bryson, he is poised to make his own mark at the position and is set to be the starting QB for QHS when the 2026 gridiron season begins Aug. 21.

Bradyn has previously told The Herald-Whig that he has never known nor loved anything but the game. He also explained his father’s coaching process and how conversations about football went beyond what Rick taught him on the field.

“My dad is a great coach,” Bradyn said. “It’s been really fun to play for him and bounce ideas off him. He’s always open to me making suggestions and it has worked well for us,” Bradyn said in an October 2022 interview with this newspaper. “We will talk football some at home, especially when we are watching an NFL or college game on TV.”

Like father, like son.

As for Bryson, he realizes how fortunate he is to have Rick both as a coach and a father.

“Having my dad as a football coach has given me many opportunities I don’t take for granted,” Bryson said. “Looking back I realize how lucky I’ve been to share the love of sports with my dad and brother. My dad has been my number one fan. Always encouraging and teaching me to compete and use every day to get better.”

A great role model and influence on his own family, perhaps the strongest testament to Little comes from another member of Little’s extended family, which includes the players he has coached and guided over the years.

“I really respect and appreciate the way he coaches the game,” QHS senior Noah Wells said. “He has a game plan. He’s always prepared and he’s very respectful of all.”

In almost three decades as a high school coach, much has changed with the game. What hasn’t changed, though, is Little’s passion for the sport and his players.

“I think it’s changed a lot schematically, offensively. It’s kind of like basketball. We’re giving guys some space now,” he said, adding that he also thinks the game is “very much ground and pound now. It’s a little more wide open.”

Coming to Quincy in 2007, he immediately knew it was a good fit for him.

“There were great people, but we were not in great shape,” Little said, adding that through the ebbs and flows of his career the people have not changed, even if the record often does.

“That keeps me going even today,” Little said.

As can be imagined, Little’s role is all consuming; it’s certainly not a 9-5 job. Even if the team isn’t practicing or playing a game, Little is constantly focused on them and making it the best it can be.

“Studying, watching games, it’s constant,” he said, admitting that there’s not a lot of free time to pursue outside hobbies.
“There’s not enough time to squeeze (hobbies) in,” Little said.

But he’s not complaining, as he wouldn’t trade any of the demands of the job for anything.

Even the change in scheduling for high school teams in the state this upcoming season is something that you wouldn’t blame a coach for complaining about. When that subject is broached, though, the coach has no argument.

In February, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) approved a proposal to start the season earlier this year.
The decision to move the start of the season up a week coincides with the change in the Illinois high school football playoffs, which will expand from 256 to 384 teams across eight classes this coming fall.

“It’s fine. It’s something we don’t have control over.” Putting it into its proper perspective, at the end of the day, despite any change in the game, the goal remains the same.

“You still have to win the games,” he said.

With an overall win percentage of .602 in his head coaching career at QHS, Little has certainly won his share of games. He also admits to continuing to learn something new every step of the way – which are traits that make the good leaders, great ones.

About to celebrate his 20th anniversary as head coach for the Blue Devils is certainly a milestone moment for Little.

Ironically, Little hadn’t even realized that anniversary was approaching until it was pointed out to him. That alone suggests he has never been counting years or chasing milestones. He was, instead, focused on coaching. That’s a subtle character detail that is actually more revealing than the list of his accomplishments.

While the years have brought countless lessons to Little, one truth has remained unchanged. And it’s an early realization that has nothing to do with creating plays.

“What I didn’t expect was that you become more than just the kids’ coach,” he said. Part of that is instilling not only knowledge of the game into the players, but also “making sure there’s respect in the locker room.”

Surely, no matter what each season brings, that manta has become a hallmark of Little’s tenure at QHS and one he hopes his players carry with them long after their athletic careers with the Blue Devils have ended.