Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football
English, Ron
vs
Louisiana
Sep 20 (Sat)
3:30 p.m.
Ron English
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- emu_football@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Ron English has prepared a lifetime to call a football program his own and he has not wasted any time in putting his stamp on Eastern Michigan University football.
After serving as an assistant football coach at four of the nation’s top football schools, English was named the head football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Dec. 22, 2008.
“When we began this search for a new head football coach at Eastern Michigan University we wanted someone that we felt could take our program in a new direction,” former EMU Director of Athletics Dr. Derrick Gragg said at the press conference announcing English as Eastern’s new head football coach. “After going through an exhaustive search process we selected Ron English to lead our football program. He has proven himself as a tremendous defensive coordinator over a long career and we feel that he is prepared to take over our football team as a head coach.”
That patience in learning the game at several stops has paid big dividends for the highly energetic English as he begins the task of rebuilding the EMU football program in all phases of the operation.
Just minutes after finishing the press conference, the 44-year-old English was a on a mission to hire a staff, hit the road to begin the task of signing his first recruiting class as a head coach and developing the blueprint for success.
That dedication to detail in his early days reflects one of English’s strongest traits and is reflected in his theme for his first EMU season: Embrace the Process.
After two years of laying the foundation, the 2011 campaign re-established the Eagles as a force to be reckoned with.
The team finished the 2011 season with a 6-6 overall mark and a 4-4 record in Mid-American Conference play, snapping a 15-year streak of losing seasons. EMU finished nationally in the top 50 statistically in seven categories to go along with eight top five rankings in the MAC standings. English was named MAC Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Offensively, the Green and White rushed for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns on 575 carries for the 14th-best ground attack in the nation. The total was the second most in program history trailing only the 1987 team that captured the MAC title by running the ball 610 times for a total of 2,701 yards. It marked just the second time in school history that the Eagles rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Defensively, EMU ranked 34th nationally and third in the MAC in total defense. The Eagles gave up just 350.33 yards per game, an improvement of 103.8 yards per contest. Additionally, the team averaged nearly six tackles for loss per game, the squad’s highest total since 2001 when they had 82.
English accepted the challenge of developing a winning atmosphere at EMU after spending the previous 15 years learning the college football trade at the University of Louisville, the University of Michigan, Arizona State University and San Diego State University.
English spent the 2008 season as an assistant football coach at Louisville and just prior to that was a member of the University of Michigan football staff from 2003-07 where he coached the defensive backs for his first three seasons and served as the football program’s defensive coordinator in his final two seasons under legendary Head Coach Lloyd Carr.
In 2007 English oversaw an aggressive Michigan defense that was the nation’s eighth-ranked pass defense and 17th in pass efficiency defense. The Wolverines were also 23rd in scoring defense and 24th in total defense.
English was named Rivals.com National Defensive Coordinator of the Year during his initial season as the defensive signal caller at Michigan in 2006. That Wolverine defense rated among the nation’s best, finishing first against the run, fourth in sacks, seventh in third-down defense, 10th in total defense and 15th in scoring defense.
The U-of-M defensive secondary collected 36 interceptions during his three seasons overseeing the entire corps and turned four of those picks into touchdowns. In addition, the Wolverines yielded just 37 touchdown passes by the opposition during that time, including an NCAA-leading nine in 2003.
English became the first coach in NCAA history to have two defensive backs earn consensus All-America honors in the same season, since the organization began incorporating both an offensive and defensive team in 1965, as cornerback Marlin Jackson and safety Ernest Shazor earned the recognition following the 2004 season. During his tenure on the Michigan staff he coached an All-Big Ten defensive back in every season and had two All-Conference selections in four of his five seasons.
English made an immediate impact on the Wolverine secondary during his first season as an assistant coach when U-M tied for the national lead in fewest touchdown passes yielded with nine, and finished ninth in pass efficiency defense. The secondary collected 13 interceptions and returned two for scores.
English began his collegiate coaching career as the defensive backs coach at Mt. San Antonio College (1993) in Walnut, Calif. after coaching for one season at Ganesha High School (1992), his alma mater, in Pomona, Calif.
English also tutored the secondary for two seasons at San Diego State (1996-97) and served as the outside linebackers coach at Northern Arizona for the 1996 spring practice.
He then went on to spend five seasons (1998-2002) as an assistant football coach at Arizona State University. He coached the secondary all five years with the Sun Devils, the final two years with the cornerbacks and the previous three seasons mentoring the safeties. He helped ASU to three bowl appearances: the 1999 and 2000 Aloha and 2002 Holiday bowls. His first stint at ASU was as a graduate assistant coach handling the defensive line during the 1994-95 seasons.
English was a four-year letterman (1987-90) and senior starter at safety for the University of California Golden Bears football squad. He also started on special teams all four seasons at California. English finished his career with 134 tackles and seven sacks and participated in the 1990 Copper Bowl against Wyoming. His identical twin brother, Don, also played for the Golden Bears.
A 1990 graduate of the University of California-Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, English earned his master’s degree in education administration from Arizona State in 1995.
English will be one of 13 African-American head coaches in the 120-school NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks in 2012.
English and his wife, Sophia (Woodard) have three children; Simon (14), Sydney (9) and Seth (8).
What Others Are Saying About Ron English
"Ron English is an outstanding coach and an even better person. He is the kind of coach any university would be proud to have leading their football team. Ron's impact on the young men who play for him will yield positive returns both on the field and in life."
Mike Tomlin, Head Coach Pittsburgh Steelers
"I recruited Ron out of high school so I know him not just on a football level but on a personal level. He's a great individual with a passion for football. He's a hard worker who prepares his kids so they are ready to play every down. He is going to do great things with the Eastern Michigan football program."
Rod Marinelli, Defensive Coordinator Chicago Bears
"(Former EMU QB) Andy Schmitt said he wanted to play for him as soon as he walked out of the room, because he could see the passion and intensity. With this man (Coach English), we have all four p's: profile, pedigree, performance, and passion. When you get to know him, you'll be as excited as I am."
Dr. Derrick Gragg, Athletic Director,at Ron English's opening press conference.
The Ron English File
Name: Ron English
Born: May 21, 1968
High School: Ganesha (Pomona, Calif.)
College: University of California-Berkley - Bachelor’s degree in social sciences - 1990
Arizona State University - Master’s degree in education administration - 1995
Family: Wife: Sophia; Three children: Simon (14), Sydney (9), Seth (8)
Coaching Experience
Year School Position Record-Highlights
2012 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 2-10 (1-7 MAC); Retained the Michigan MAC Trophy
2011 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 6-6 (4-4 MAC); MAC Coach of the Year; Finished top 50 nationally in seven categories
2010 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 2-10 (2-6 MAC); Team ranked 37th nationally
in rushing offense and 66th in pass defense
2009 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 0-12 (0-8 MAC) Named Head Coach Dec. 22, 2008
2008 University of Louisville Asst. Coach-Defensive Coordinator 5-7; Total defense and rushing defense ranked
in the top 10 nationally for 10 of 12 games
2007 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Defensive Coordinator 9-4; T-2nd Big Ten; Capital One Bowl Champions;
Ranked eighth in the nation in pass defense
2006 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Defensive Coordinator 11-2; T-2nd Big Ten; Rose Bowl;
Rivals.com National Defensive Coord. of the Year
Led the nation in run defense
2005 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Secondary 7-5; T-3rd Big Ten; Alamo Bowl
2004 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Secondary 9-3; T-1st Big Ten; Rose Bowl
2003 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Secondary 10-3; 1st Big Ten; Rose Bowl; Nation’s leader in passing TDs allowed; 9th in def. pass efficiency
2002 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 8-6; Holiday Bowl
2001 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 4-7
2000 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 6-6; Aloha Bowl; 2nd nationally in turnovers forced
1999 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 6-6; Aloha Bowl
1998 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 5-6
1997 San Diego State University Asst. Coach-Def. backs 5-7
1996 San Diego State University Asst. Coach-Def. backs 8-3
1995 Northern Arizona University Asst. Coach-Def. Backs Spring season only
Arizona State University Grad. Asst. Coach
1994 Arizona State University Grad. Asst. Coach
1993 Mt. San Antonio College Asst. Coach-Def. backs California Bowl Champions
1992 Ganesha High School Asst. Coach
After serving as an assistant football coach at four of the nation’s top football schools, English was named the head football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Dec. 22, 2008.
“When we began this search for a new head football coach at Eastern Michigan University we wanted someone that we felt could take our program in a new direction,” former EMU Director of Athletics Dr. Derrick Gragg said at the press conference announcing English as Eastern’s new head football coach. “After going through an exhaustive search process we selected Ron English to lead our football program. He has proven himself as a tremendous defensive coordinator over a long career and we feel that he is prepared to take over our football team as a head coach.”
That patience in learning the game at several stops has paid big dividends for the highly energetic English as he begins the task of rebuilding the EMU football program in all phases of the operation.
Just minutes after finishing the press conference, the 44-year-old English was a on a mission to hire a staff, hit the road to begin the task of signing his first recruiting class as a head coach and developing the blueprint for success.
That dedication to detail in his early days reflects one of English’s strongest traits and is reflected in his theme for his first EMU season: Embrace the Process.
After two years of laying the foundation, the 2011 campaign re-established the Eagles as a force to be reckoned with.
The team finished the 2011 season with a 6-6 overall mark and a 4-4 record in Mid-American Conference play, snapping a 15-year streak of losing seasons. EMU finished nationally in the top 50 statistically in seven categories to go along with eight top five rankings in the MAC standings. English was named MAC Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Offensively, the Green and White rushed for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns on 575 carries for the 14th-best ground attack in the nation. The total was the second most in program history trailing only the 1987 team that captured the MAC title by running the ball 610 times for a total of 2,701 yards. It marked just the second time in school history that the Eagles rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Defensively, EMU ranked 34th nationally and third in the MAC in total defense. The Eagles gave up just 350.33 yards per game, an improvement of 103.8 yards per contest. Additionally, the team averaged nearly six tackles for loss per game, the squad’s highest total since 2001 when they had 82.
English accepted the challenge of developing a winning atmosphere at EMU after spending the previous 15 years learning the college football trade at the University of Louisville, the University of Michigan, Arizona State University and San Diego State University.
English spent the 2008 season as an assistant football coach at Louisville and just prior to that was a member of the University of Michigan football staff from 2003-07 where he coached the defensive backs for his first three seasons and served as the football program’s defensive coordinator in his final two seasons under legendary Head Coach Lloyd Carr.
In 2007 English oversaw an aggressive Michigan defense that was the nation’s eighth-ranked pass defense and 17th in pass efficiency defense. The Wolverines were also 23rd in scoring defense and 24th in total defense.
English was named Rivals.com National Defensive Coordinator of the Year during his initial season as the defensive signal caller at Michigan in 2006. That Wolverine defense rated among the nation’s best, finishing first against the run, fourth in sacks, seventh in third-down defense, 10th in total defense and 15th in scoring defense.
The U-of-M defensive secondary collected 36 interceptions during his three seasons overseeing the entire corps and turned four of those picks into touchdowns. In addition, the Wolverines yielded just 37 touchdown passes by the opposition during that time, including an NCAA-leading nine in 2003.
English became the first coach in NCAA history to have two defensive backs earn consensus All-America honors in the same season, since the organization began incorporating both an offensive and defensive team in 1965, as cornerback Marlin Jackson and safety Ernest Shazor earned the recognition following the 2004 season. During his tenure on the Michigan staff he coached an All-Big Ten defensive back in every season and had two All-Conference selections in four of his five seasons.
English made an immediate impact on the Wolverine secondary during his first season as an assistant coach when U-M tied for the national lead in fewest touchdown passes yielded with nine, and finished ninth in pass efficiency defense. The secondary collected 13 interceptions and returned two for scores.
English began his collegiate coaching career as the defensive backs coach at Mt. San Antonio College (1993) in Walnut, Calif. after coaching for one season at Ganesha High School (1992), his alma mater, in Pomona, Calif.
English also tutored the secondary for two seasons at San Diego State (1996-97) and served as the outside linebackers coach at Northern Arizona for the 1996 spring practice.
He then went on to spend five seasons (1998-2002) as an assistant football coach at Arizona State University. He coached the secondary all five years with the Sun Devils, the final two years with the cornerbacks and the previous three seasons mentoring the safeties. He helped ASU to three bowl appearances: the 1999 and 2000 Aloha and 2002 Holiday bowls. His first stint at ASU was as a graduate assistant coach handling the defensive line during the 1994-95 seasons.
English was a four-year letterman (1987-90) and senior starter at safety for the University of California Golden Bears football squad. He also started on special teams all four seasons at California. English finished his career with 134 tackles and seven sacks and participated in the 1990 Copper Bowl against Wyoming. His identical twin brother, Don, also played for the Golden Bears.
A 1990 graduate of the University of California-Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, English earned his master’s degree in education administration from Arizona State in 1995.
English will be one of 13 African-American head coaches in the 120-school NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks in 2012.
English and his wife, Sophia (Woodard) have three children; Simon (14), Sydney (9) and Seth (8).
What Others Are Saying About Ron English
"Ron English is an outstanding coach and an even better person. He is the kind of coach any university would be proud to have leading their football team. Ron's impact on the young men who play for him will yield positive returns both on the field and in life."
Mike Tomlin, Head Coach Pittsburgh Steelers
"I recruited Ron out of high school so I know him not just on a football level but on a personal level. He's a great individual with a passion for football. He's a hard worker who prepares his kids so they are ready to play every down. He is going to do great things with the Eastern Michigan football program."
Rod Marinelli, Defensive Coordinator Chicago Bears
"(Former EMU QB) Andy Schmitt said he wanted to play for him as soon as he walked out of the room, because he could see the passion and intensity. With this man (Coach English), we have all four p's: profile, pedigree, performance, and passion. When you get to know him, you'll be as excited as I am."
Dr. Derrick Gragg, Athletic Director,at Ron English's opening press conference.
The Ron English File
Name: Ron English
Born: May 21, 1968
High School: Ganesha (Pomona, Calif.)
College: University of California-Berkley - Bachelor’s degree in social sciences - 1990
Arizona State University - Master’s degree in education administration - 1995
Family: Wife: Sophia; Three children: Simon (14), Sydney (9), Seth (8)
Coaching Experience
Year School Position Record-Highlights
2012 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 2-10 (1-7 MAC); Retained the Michigan MAC Trophy
2011 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 6-6 (4-4 MAC); MAC Coach of the Year; Finished top 50 nationally in seven categories
2010 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 2-10 (2-6 MAC); Team ranked 37th nationally
in rushing offense and 66th in pass defense
2009 Eastern Michigan University Head Coach 0-12 (0-8 MAC) Named Head Coach Dec. 22, 2008
2008 University of Louisville Asst. Coach-Defensive Coordinator 5-7; Total defense and rushing defense ranked
in the top 10 nationally for 10 of 12 games
2007 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Defensive Coordinator 9-4; T-2nd Big Ten; Capital One Bowl Champions;
Ranked eighth in the nation in pass defense
2006 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Defensive Coordinator 11-2; T-2nd Big Ten; Rose Bowl;
Rivals.com National Defensive Coord. of the Year
Led the nation in run defense
2005 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Secondary 7-5; T-3rd Big Ten; Alamo Bowl
2004 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Secondary 9-3; T-1st Big Ten; Rose Bowl
2003 University of Michigan Asst. Coach-Secondary 10-3; 1st Big Ten; Rose Bowl; Nation’s leader in passing TDs allowed; 9th in def. pass efficiency
2002 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 8-6; Holiday Bowl
2001 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 4-7
2000 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 6-6; Aloha Bowl; 2nd nationally in turnovers forced
1999 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 6-6; Aloha Bowl
1998 Arizona State University Asst. Coach-Secondary 5-6
1997 San Diego State University Asst. Coach-Def. backs 5-7
1996 San Diego State University Asst. Coach-Def. backs 8-3
1995 Northern Arizona University Asst. Coach-Def. Backs Spring season only
Arizona State University Grad. Asst. Coach
1994 Arizona State University Grad. Asst. Coach
1993 Mt. San Antonio College Asst. Coach-Def. backs California Bowl Champions
1992 Ganesha High School Asst. Coach
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