A. J. Ricker

A. J. Ricker
Current position
TitleCo-offensive coordinator, offensive line coach
TeamTCU
ConferenceBig 12
Biographical details
Born (1980-03-29) March 29, 1980 (age 44)
Spring, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1999–2003Missouri
2004Chicago Bears
2005Rhein Fire
2006–2007Tampa Bay Storm
Position(s)Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2006–2007Western Michigan (GA)
2008Western Michigan (OL)
2009Saint Joseph's (IN) (OL)
2010St. Joseph's (IN)
2011–2012Western Michigan (RCG/OL)
2013Illinois (OL)
2014–2015Missouri (OL)
2016Houston (OA)
2017Oklahoma State (OA)
2018Kansas (OL)
2019SMU (OL)
2020SMU (co-OC/OL)
2021–presentTCU (co-OC/OL)
Head coaching record
Overall5–5
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 GLFC (2010)

A. J. Ricker (born March 29, 1980) is an American college football coach. He is the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Texas Christian University, a position he has held since 2021. He was the head football coach at Saint Joseph's College in Collegeville, Indiana, in 2010.

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]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Saint Joseph's Pumas (Great Lakes Football Conference) (2010)
2010 Saint Joseph's 5–5 2–1 T–1st
Saint Joseph's: 5–5 2–1
Total: 5–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ a b c "A.J. Ricker". TCU Athletics. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Three Huskers Named First-Team All-Big 12". Huskers News. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Eighth All-Big 12 Conference Coaches Football Team Features Seven All-America Selections, Regional Stalwarts". Big 12 Conference. December 2, 2003. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "Coaches All-Big 12 Team Announced". Texas Tech Athletics. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "Bears Sign MU Player". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. August 3, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Former MU lineman A.J. Ricker joins Pinkel's staff". ABC17NEWS. July 10, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Breach, Christopher (February 17, 2010). "New football coach A.J. Ricker on fast track at Saint Joseph's College". NWI News. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Matter, Dave. "Ricker rejoins Cubit's staff at Western Michigan". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "AP source: Illinois hires Ricker to be line coach". Fox Sports. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  10. ^ "AP source: Illinois hires Ricker to be line coach". ESPN. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  11. ^ "Missouri to hire A.J. Ricker as new offensive line coach". The Kansas CIty Star. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  12. ^ Brown, Ben (July 17, 2014). "Missouri Tigers Hire New Offensive Line Coach". Truman's Tales. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Cox, Kyle. "OSU Adds Offensive Analyst A.J. Ricker". Pistols Firing. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Fredrickson, Kyle. "OSU football journal: Cowboys announce hire of two additional team analysts". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  15. ^ Galloway, Matt. "KU football hires Mizzou standout to coach offensive line". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Cooper, Mark (January 17, 2018). "Former Oklahoma State offensive analyst A.J. Ricker takes job at Kansas". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "Ricker Named Offensive Line Coach". SMU Mustangs. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  18. ^ "SMU promotes AJ Ricker to co-offensive coordinator". 247Sports. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "A.J. RICKER". Broyles Award. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  20. ^ Hale, Tyker (December 10, 2020). "Nominees for 2020 Broyles Award Announced". AY Magazine. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "TCU Football: Introducing more of the New Staff". Sports Illustrated. December 12, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Wilson, Dave (January 9, 2023). "Sonny Dykes fueled TCU's run to title game with simple mantra". ESPN. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "Max Duggan Named Heisman Trophy Finalist". Sports Illustrated. December 5, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.