A. J. Ricker

Last updated

A. J. Ricker
Biographical details
Born (1980-03-29) March 29, 1980 (age 46)
Spring, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1999–2003 Missouri
2004 Chicago Bears
2005 Rhein Fire
2006–2007 Tampa Bay Storm
Position Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2006–2007 Western Michigan (GA)
2008Western Michigan (OL)
2009 Saint Joseph's (IN) (OL)
2010Saint Joseph's (IN)
2011–2012Western Michigan (RCG/OL)
2013 Illinois (OL)
2014–2015 Missouri (OL)
2016 Houston (off. analyst)
2017 Oklahoma State (off. analyst)
2018 Kansas (OL)
2019 SMU (OL)
2020SMU (co-OC/OL)
2021–2026 TCU (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 was most recently the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Texas Christian University, a position he held from 2021-2026. He was the head football coach at Saint Joseph's College in Collegeville, Indiana, in 2010.

Contents

College career

In his college career Ricker played in 47 career games and was a two-time team captain. [1] He made the All Big-12 team three times: a third-team selection in 2001, second-team selection in 2002, and a first-team selection in 2003. [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 was cut before the regular season started. Ricker went 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 then headed to St. Josephs College as their offensive line coach. [1] However he was promoted to be St. Josephs next head coach after their head coach Lou Esposito left for Western Michigan. [7] He then returned to Western Michigan as their offensive line coach. [8] From there he moved on to Illinois as their offensive line coach. [9] After one year at Illinois, Ricker took on the offensive line coaching position at Missouri, where he stayed for two years. [10] 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. [11] Ricker then got another offensive line coaching job at Kansas for the 2018 season. [12] The next stop for Ricker was at SMU as their offensive line coach for the 2019 season. [13] After one season with SMU he was promoted to be their co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. [14] After a stellar season at SMU as their co-offensive coordinator he was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the best assistant coach in the country. [15] He was hired by TCU to be their co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. [16] In his time with TCU he helped the program to the National Championship as well as helping quarterback Max Duggan become a Heisman Trophy finalist. [17] [18] Ricker was fired by TCU on October 25, 2026, after a 3-4 start to the season.

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Saint Joseph's Pumas (Great Lakes Football Conference)(2010)
2010 Saint Joseph's5–52–1T–1st
Saint Joseph's:5–52–1
Total:5–5
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. 1 2 3 "A.J. Ricker". TCU Athletics. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Three Huskers Named First-Team All-Big 12". Huskers News. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. 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". ESPN. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Missouri to hire A.J. Ricker as new offensive line coach". The Kansas CIty Star. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  11. ↑ Fredrickson, Kyle. "OSU football journal: Cowboys announce hire of two additional team analysts". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  12. ↑ Galloway, Matt. "KU football hires Mizzou standout to coach offensive line". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Ricker Named Offensive Line Coach". SMU Mustangs. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ "SMU promotes AJ Ricker to co-offensive coordinator". 247Sports. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  15. ↑ "A.J. RICKER". Broyles Award. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  16. ↑ "TCU Football: Introducing more of the New Staff". Sports Illustrated. December 12, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  17. ↑ Wilson, Dave (January 9, 2023). "Sonny Dykes fueled TCU's run to title game with simple mantra". ESPN. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  18. ↑ Gibbons, Brett (December 5, 2022). "Max Duggan Named Heisman Trophy Finalist". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
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