Former Head Football Coach (2019-21)
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
High School: Wichita South
College: Dodge City CC; Bethel College (KS)
Ricky Coon spent three years as the Head Football Coach at Dodge City CC. He coach an pair of NJCAA All-Americans including punter in Corry Wilhoit in 2021 as he earned first team All-American honors and Daquan Bailey-Brown in 2019. During his three years he coached 26 All-KJCCC honorees.
Prior to Dodge City, he has spent five years as the Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line coach at NCAA D1 FCS Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO. Last season he helped the Redhawks to a 9-4 finish and second ever national playoff berth. SEMO won its first playoff game in school history and were eliminated in the second round by Weber State University.
In 2018, The SEMO defense led the nation in Takeaways and Turnover Margin. They led the Ohio Valley Conference in sacks, interceptions and Red Zone defense.
In 2017, The SEMO defense had a record setting year as they allowed 17 points per game in OVC play, notched 37 sacks which led the OVC and were 2nd most in a season in SEMO history and 6th in the nation. They only allowed 7 rushing touchdowns, which was the best in school history and 8th in the nation and also finished in the top 25 nationally in Red Zone defense.
In 2016, the defensive line helped limit opponents to 138.5 rushing yards per game, third-fewest in the OVC. Southeast also boasted the league’s second-best red zone defense with the help of Coon’s unit.
In 2015, the defensive line again helped the Redhawks notch over 30 sacks (31), their third-most in a season in school history. SEMO finished second in the OVC in sacks behind national runner-up and league champion Jacksonville State that year.
Under Coon’s direction, SEMO’s defensive line has played a huge part in the Redhawks averaging 30 sacks and 85 tackles for loss per season over the last five years.
Coach Coon spent the 2013 season as Defensive Coordinator at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
Prior to that, he worked the 2012 campaign as Defensive Line coach at NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University and gained six years of experience at the junior college level.
Coon was the Defensive Coordinator at Ellsworth Community College (2009-11), where 18 of his players received all-conference recognition and three were named National Junior College Athletic Association All-Americans. He helped lead the Panthers to the 2009 NJCAA Region XI Championships, two Midwest Football Conference Playoff titles (2009, 2010) and two NJCAA bowl game appearances. In 2009, Coon’s defensive unit set a school record for fewest yards allowed in a bowl game.
Before his three-year stint at Ellsworth CC, Coon was the Defensive Coordinator and Head Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Highland Community College from 2007-08. Coon’s defensive units finished among the NJCAA’s Top-20 teams in each of his two seasons and, statistically, were the best two defenses in school history at that time. A total of seven defensive players received all-conference accolades during his two years.
Coon worked as Defensive Line coach at NCAA Division II Northern State in 2006.
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Coon started his coaching career as the Defensive Line coach and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at his alma mater, Bethel College.
He 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 Wichita Stealth (AF2) and Wichita Aviators (APFL).
Coon is married to the former Amanda Sanchez of Newton, Kansas. Together they have four children, Taryn, Zane, Gunner and Bryson.
