A. J. Ricker
A. J. Ricker (born March 29, 1980) is an American football coach who is the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for TCU.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL Coach |
| Team | TCU |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | March 29, 1980 Spring, Texas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2004 | Chicago Bears |
| 2005 | Rhein Fire |
| 2006–2007 | Tampa Bay Storm |
| Position(s) | Center |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2006–2007 | Western Michigan (GA) |
| 2008 | Western Michigan (OL) |
| 2009 | St. Joseph's College (OL) |
| 2010 | St. Joseph's College |
| 2011–2012 | Western Michigan (Run Game Coordinator/OL) |
| 2013 | Illinois (OL) |
| 2014–2015 | Missouri (OL) |
| 2016 | Houston (Offensive Analyst) |
| 2017 | Oklahoma State (Offensive Analyst) |
| 2018 | Kansas (OL) |
| 2019 | SMU (OL) |
| 2020 | SMU (Co-Offensive Coordinator/OL) |
| 2021–present | TCU (co-OC/OL) |
College career
In his college career he played in 47 career games, and was a two-time team captain.[1] Ricker made the All Big-12 team three times. In 2001 he was a Third Team All-Big-12 selection, in 2002 he was a Second Team All-Big-12 selection, and in 2003 he was a First Team All-Big-12 selection.[2][3][4]
Professional career
After not being selected in the 2004 NFL Draft, Ricker signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.[5] However he would be cut before the regular season started. Ricker would go on to NFL Europe where he signed with the Rhein Fire; he also had a stint in the Arena Football League for two years.[6]
Coaching career
Ricker started his coaching career with Western Michigan as a graduate assistant before being promoted to be their offensive line coach. He would then head to St. Josephs College as their offensive line coach.[1] However he would be promoted to be St. Josephs next head coach after their head coach Lou Esposito left for Western Michigan.[7] He then return edto Western Michigan as their offensive line coach.[8] From there he moved on to Illinois as their offensive line coach.[9][10] After just one year at Illinois, Ricker took on the offensive line coaching position at Missouri, where he would stay for two years.[11][12] Ricker then took on offensive analyst role at Houston for the 2016 season.[1] Ricker's nest stop for the 2017 season was Oklahoma State as an offensive analyst.[13][14] Ricker would then get another offensive line coaching job this time at Kansas for the 2018 season.[15][16] The next stop for Ricker would come at SMU as their offensive line coach for the 2019 season[17] The after his first season with SMU he would be promoted to be their co-offensive coordinator at offensive line coach.[18] After a stellar season at SMU as their co-offensive coordinator he was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, which given to the best assistant coach in the country.[19][20] After his stellar coaching stint at SMU he was hired by TCU to be their co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, a position he still holds[21] In his time with TCU he has helped the program massively helping the Horned Frogs to the National Championship as well as helping quarterback Max Duggan become a Heisman Trophy finalist.[22][23]
References
- "A.J. RICKER". TCU Athletics. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Three Huskers Named First-Team All-Big 12". Huskers News. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Eighth All-Big 12 Conference Coaches Football Team Features Seven All-America Selections, Regional Stalwarts". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Coaches All-Big 12 Team Announced". Texas Tech Athletics. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Bears Sign MU Player". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Former MU lineman A.J. Ricker joins Pinkel's staff". ABC17NEWS. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Breach, Christopher. "New football coach A.J. Ricker on fast track at Saint Joseph's College". NWI News. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Matter, Dave. "Ricker rejoins Cubit's staff at Western Michigan". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "AP source: Illinois hires Ricker to be line coach". Fox Sports. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "AP source: Illinois hires Ricker to be line coach". ESPN. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Missouri to hire A.J. Ricker as new offensive line coach". The Kansas CIty Star. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Brown, Ben. "Missouri Tigers Hire New Offensive Line Coach". Truman's Tales. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Cox, Kyle. "OSU Adds Offensive Analyst A.J. Ricker". Pistols Firing. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Fredrickson, Kyle. "OSU football journal: Cowboys announce hire of two additional team analysts". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Galloway, Matt. "KU football hires Mizzou standout to coach offensive line". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Cooper, Mark. "Former Oklahoma State offensive analyst A.J. Ricker takes job at Kansas". Tulsa World. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Ricker Named Offensive Line Coach". SMU Mustangs. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "SMU promotes AJ Ricker to co-offensive coordinator". 247Sports. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "A.J. RICKER". Broyles Award. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Hale, Tyker. "Nominees for 2020 Broyles Award Announced". AY Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "TCU Football: Introducing more of the New Staff". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- Wilson, Dave. "Sonny Dykes fueled TCU's run to title game with simple mantra". ESPN. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- "Max Duggan Named Heisman Trophy Finalist". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 20 May 2023.