Ricky Hunley

Ricky Hunley

Arizona Wildcats
Position:	Defensive tackles coach
Personal information
Born:	(1961-11-11)November 11, 1961 Petersburg, Virginia,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:	Petersburg (VA)
College:	Arizona
NFL draft:	1984/ Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Career history
As a player:
Cincinnati Bengals(1984)* Denver Broncos(1984–1987) Phoenix Cardinals(1988) Los Angeles Raiders(1989–1990) Indianapolis Colts(1991)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
USC(1992–1993) Graduate assistant Missouri(1994–1997) Defensive line coach Missouri (1998–2000) Associate head coach & linebackers coach Florida(2001) Defensive line coach Washington Redskins(2002) Defensive line coach Cincinnati Bengals(2003–2007) Linebackers coach California Redwoods / Sacramento Mountain Lions(2009–2011) Defensive coordinator Oakland Raiders(2011) Assistant linebackers coach Football University (2012-13) Lead coach and instructor Memphis(2014–2015) Defensive line coach Arizona(2021–present) Defensive line coach/Defensive tackle coach
Career highlights and awards
Unanimous All-American(1983) ConsensusAll-American(1982) Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year(1983) 3× First-teamAll-Pac-10(1981,1982,1983) Arizona Wildcats Jersey No. 89retired
Career NFL statistics
Sacks: 2.5 Fumblerecoveries: 2 Interceptions: 3
Player stats atPFR
College Football Hall of Fame

Ricky Cardell Hunley(born November 11, 1961) is anAmerican footballcoach and former professional player who was alinebackerin theNational Football League(NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s and early 1990s. Hunley playedcollege footballfor theUniversity of Arizona,and was twice recognized as a consensusAll-American.He was selected in the first round of the1984 NFL draft,and played professionally for theDenver Broncos,Arizona CardinalsandLos Angeles Raidersof the NFL. He is currently the defensive line coach at the University of Arizona inTucson,his alma mater.

Early life

Hunley was born inPetersburg, Virginia,and graduated fromPetersburg High School.

College playing career

Hunley attended the University of Arizona, where he played for theArizona Wildcats footballteam from 1980 to 1983. As a junior in 1982 and again as a senior in 1983, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American—and became the first Arizona Wildcat football player to receive consensus All-American honors.

In 1998, he was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame–the first player from the University of Arizona to be enshrined.

Professional playing career

Hunley went on to an NFL career with theDenver Broncos(1984–87),Phoenix Cardinals(1988), and theLos Angeles Raiders(1989–90). It is noted that Hunley was drafted by the Bengals but after failing to reach a contract agreement was traded to Denver. Hunley played in bothSuper Bowl XXIandSuper Bowl XXIIfor the Broncos. He was elected executive vice president of theNFL Players Association(1990–92).

Coaching career

Hunley coached on the collegiate level at theUniversity of Southern California(1992–93),University of Missouri(1994–2000),University of Florida(2001), and theUniversity of Memphis(2014-15). He helped the Florida Gators win the BCS FedEx2002 Orange Bowl.In his first two coaching gigs, he worked under head coachLarry Smith.

Hunley started his NFL coaching career through the NFL Minority Fellowship Coaching Program in 2002 as thedefensive linecoach for theWashington RedskinsunderSteve Spurrier,following Spurrier to the pros after his final season with Florida. While with Washington, Hunley first met defensive coordinatorMarvin Lewis.Hunley becameLinebackerscoach under Lewis when Lewis became the head coach of theCincinnati Bengalsfrom 2003 to 2007.

In 2005, Hunley helped the Bengals ended 15 years of futility by notching their first winning season since 1990 and winning the AFC North division title with an 11–5 record. Two years later in 2007, he was fired after a disappointing season and a flurry of player injuries and suspensions. During his time in the NFL, he also served on the board of directors for theBlack Coaches Association.

Hunley eventually returned to college football, coaching for two seasons (2014–15) with the Memphis Tigers. In 2015, Hunley helped the Tigers post a 9-4 record, and an appearance in theBirmingham Bowl.

On December 30, 2020, Hunley joinedJedd Fisch's coaching staff as defensive line coach at theUniversity of Arizona,his alma mater.

Personal life

Hunley and his wife Camille have two daughters. His younger brother, Lamonte, was also an All-American linebacker at Arizona.He founded the Ricky Hunley Football Camp, a non-profit instruction center for high school boys.

External links

• Football Digest Article