Ricky Brumfield enters his second season as an assistant coach for Nicholls, serving as special teams coordinator/safeties coach.
Last season under Brumfield’s tutelage, the Colonel “Special Forces” was among the leaders in the FCS in blocked kicks, accounting for six on the year. In addition, kick returner Chika Madu set a single-game Southland and program record with 304 yards and two touchdowns against Stephen F. Austin en route to being named National, Southland and Louisiana Player of the Week. As a unit, Nicholls finished the season ranked 14th in the FCS with a 23.55 yard kick return average. Punter Cory Kemps finished sixth in the nation with a 42.8 yard per punt average, joining Madu as a first-team All-Southland honoree. In the secondary, along with finishing second on the team in tackles, safety Siegan Vergenal was tied for fourth in the FCS with five forced fumbles.
Brumfield, a native of New Orleans, joins the Colonel staff after directing the special teams at Fairmont State University for seven seasons. In 2010, the Fighting Falcons ranked No. 1 in their conference in overall special teams as his squad blocked five kicks, caused two turnovers and scored two touchdowns on the year. In ’09, FSU had the third best kick return average in NCAA Division II.
Under Brumfield’s direction in 2010, three Falcons earned all-conference for special teams. Kicker Frank Keenan and punter Ben Landis were named first-team while second-team kicker returner Zack Page became the all-time record holder in three kick return categories for D-II – kick returns, kick return yards and combined return yards.
At Fairmont State, Brumfield also served as wide receivers coach where his top receiver, Perry Baker, was one of the few non-Division I players to be selected to play in the 2010 East-West Shrine Game.
During his tenure at FSU, Brumfield spent five summers assisting with various NFL teams. From 2007-09, he worked with the Pittsburg Steelers, tutoring wide receivers as well as contributing his efforts to special teams.
Prior to FSU, Brumfield started his coaching career at Union College in 2001, serving as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach. During his tenure at Union, he received his master’s in 2003.
Brumfield earned his bachelor’s from Utah State University, where he was a four-time letterwinner and two-year starter as a wide receiver. While at Utah State, the Aggies were two-time Big West Conference Champions and earned a berth to the Humanitarian Bowl in 1997.
Brumfield and his wife, Erin, have four children; Kyan (13), McKel (9), Tacy (6) and Asher (2).
