Ricky Coon enters his first season as the Rangers' defensive coordinator and defensive line coach and has six years of prior experience at the junior college level.
Coon spent last season at NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University as the defensive line coach.
Prior to SBU, Coon served three seasons (2009-12) as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Ellsworth Community College where 18 of his players received all-conference recognition and three were named NJCAA All-Americans.
Coon helped the Panthers to the 2009 NJCAA Region XI Championship, two Midwest Football Conference Playoff Championships (2009, 2010) and two NJCAA bowl game appearances. In 2009, Coon’s defensive unit set a school record for the least amount of yards given up in a bowl game.
Prior to his three-year stint at Ellsworth CC, Coon worked at Highland Community College where he served as defensive coordinator and head strength and conditioning coordinator from 2007-09. Coon’s defensive units finished in the Top 20 in the NJCAA in each of his two seasons, and the defensive unit put together, statistically, the best two defensive units in school history. Seven defensive players were received all-conference honors during his two years.
Coon spent the 2006 season at Division II Northern State University where he was the academic coordinator and defensive line coach.
A native of Wichita, Kan., Coon got his start in coaching as the defensive line coach and head strength and conditioning coordinator at his alma mater, Bethel College.
Coon was a two-time all-conference defensive lineman at Dodge City Community College and Bethel College. Coon also had the privilege of playing two seasons of professional football in the Arena Football League for the WichiÂta Stealth (AF2) and the WichiÂta AviatorÂs (APFL). Â
Coon is married to the former Amanda Sanchez. Together they have four children, Taryn (9), Zane (6), Gunner (5) and Bryson (1).
