Ricky Hunley

Ricky Hunley

Arizona Wildcats
Position:	Defensive line coach
Personal information
Born:	(1961-11-11) November 11, 1961 Petersburg, Virginia
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:
Denver Broncos (1984–1987) Phoenix Cardinals (1988) Los Angeles Raiders (1989–1990)
As a coach:
Southern California (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
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (1982, 1983) Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year (1983) AFC Championship (1986, 1987)
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Ricky Cardell Hunley (born November 11, 1961) is an American football coach and former professional player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s and early 1990s. Hunley played college football for the University of Arizona, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL. He is currently the defensive line coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson, his alma mater.

Early years

Hunley was born in Petersburg, Virginia, and graduated from Petersburg High School.

College playing career

Hunley attended the University of Arizona, where he played for the Arizona Wildcats football team 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 the College 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 the Denver Broncos (1984–87), Phoenix Cardinals (1988), and the Los 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 both Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXII for the Broncos. He was elected executive vice president of the NFL Players Association (1990–92).

Coaching career

Hunley coached on the collegiate level at the University of Southern California (1992–93), University of Missouri (1994–2000), University of Florida (2001), and the University of Memphis (2014-15). He helped the Florida Gators win the BCS FedEx 2002 Orange Bowl.

Hunley started his NFL coaching career through the NFL Minority Fellowship Coaching Program in 2002 as the defensive line coach for the Washington Redskins under Steve Spurrier, where he met Marvin Lewis. He then moved to Linebackers coach under Lewis for the Cincinnati Bengals from 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 the Black Coaches Association.

Hunley coached for two seasons (2014-15) with the Memphis Tigers. In 2015, Hunley helped the Tigers post a 9-4 record, and an appearance in the Birmingham Bowl.

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