Ron English - Football Coach - University of Louisville Athletic

Ron English

Title:
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
Email:
coachenglish@GoCards.com

A veteran on the defensive side of the football, Ron English brought an aggressive and opportunistic defense to the Cardinals when he took over as the defensive coordinator in 2023.

In his return to Louisville, English’s defense was instrumental in guiding the Cardinals to the ACC title game. Under English’s guidance, the Cardinals held six opponents to less than 14 points and posted a pair of shutouts, including a 23-0 win over No. 20 Duke.

Using an attacking style of defense, the Cardinals held the opposition to 99.8 yards rushing per game, which ranked 10th nationally and was the sixth-lowest total in school history.

Prior to his time with the Cardinals, English spent two seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Purdue, where the Boilermakers improved dramatically under English’s guidance.

Taking over a defense that was giving up almost 400.0 yards per game prior to his arrival, the Boilermaker defense yielded an average of 350.0 yards per game and 24.6 points per game.

The Boilermaker’s held four opponents to less than 17 points last season.

Picking off just six passes the season prior, the Boilermakers would record 27 interceptions with English leading the secondary. Purdue finished in the top 35 nationally in interceptions, including 15th in 2022 when the secondary recorded 14 picks. Purdue’s defense was also top 25 in red zone defense (23rd - .756).

English spent three seasons (2018-20) as the safeties coach at Florida before joining the Purdue staff. In 2019, Florida finished tied for ninth in the FBS with 16 interceptions.

Prior to his time at Florida, English was the safeties coach at Mississippi State for one season (2017). As MSU’s secondary coach, the Bulldogs finished fourth in the SEC in pass defense (175.0 yards per game) and third in total defense (302.0 yards per game). MSU allowed merely 20.4 points per game in 2017. Mark McLaurin led the SEC in interceptions in 2017.

English served as San Jose State’s defensive coordinator in 2016, with the Spartans finishing fourth in the Mountain West in pass defense (188.6 yards per game), first in third-down conversion defense (37.6 percent), fifth in interceptions (10) and fourth in turnovers forced (19).

English was the head coach at Eastern Michigan from 2009-13. In 2011, he guided the Eagles to their best record in 15 years, finishing 6-6 and 4-4 in the MAC. English was named the MAC Coach of the Year in 2011.

Prior to serving as the defensive coordinator at Louisville in 2008, English coached at Michigan for five seasons (2003-07), spending three seasons (2003-05) as the defensive backs coach and the final two years (2006-07) as defensive coordinator. Michigan finished the 2007 season eighth in the nation in pass defense and English was nominated for the Broyles Award, presented annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.

During his time in Ann Arbor, English was named the Rivals Defensive Coordinator of the Year (2006) and a Rivals top 25 recruiter (2006). In 2004, he became the first coach to have two All-American defensive backs in the same season (Marlin Jackson and Ernest Shazor).

English was the secondary coach at Arizona State for five seasons (1998-2002), where the Sun Devils finished second in the nation in turnovers forced in 2000. English also spent time at San Diego State (1996-97) and Northern Arizona (1996) as a defensive backs coach.

As a graduate assistant coach at ASU (1994-95), English earned a master’s degree in education administration. He began his collegiate coaching career at Mt. San Antonio College (1993) after spending one year as an assistant at Ganesha High School (1992) in California.

A four-year letter winner as a safety at Cal (1987-90), English earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences in 1991, while helping guide the Golden Bears to the 1990 Copper Bowl title.