Kevin Ramsey joined the Texas Southern University football program as defensive coordinator in February 2009. In 2010, his team’s defense ranked nationally within the top three in six defensive categories. They are first in total defense, sacks, tackles for loss & pass efficiency defense, second in pass defense and third in rushing defense. They were also named the 2010 NCAA FCS statistical champion for total defense and pass efficiency defense.
The Tiger’s defense also produced the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, the SBN Player of the Year, the Pigskin Club SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and the SWAC Championship Player of the Year. That player was Dejuan Fulghum of Killeen, TX.
In the 2009 season, Ramsey’s defense ranked first in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in total defense, pass defense, interceptions, sacks and opponent first downs. They ranked 21st nationally in total defense and 20th in pass defense.
He came to TSU from Carson-Newman where he was served as defensive coordinator for three seasons.
C-N finished in the top 20 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and rushing defense in each of Ramsey’s first two seasons, and finished 11th nationally in rushing defense in 2008.
Ramsey has ties to East Tennessee as he served as the defensive secondary coach at the University of Tennessee from 1995 to 1999. He was instrumental in building a defense that help power the Volunteers to the Southeastern Conference Championship in 1997 and 1998 and the National Championship in 1998.
Ramsey has coached for a variety of collegiate and professional teams. His most recent coaching stint was at Arizona State when he was the defensive backs in 2003. He served as the defensive secondary coach for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals from 2001-2003 and was the defensive coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs in 1999-2000. Prior to his coaching stop at Tennessee, Ramsey was the defensive secondary coach at West Virginia from 1993 to 1995, with the 1993 Mountaineer team claiming the Big East Conference championship. He served as a coach at Northwestern from 1990 to 1993 and as outside linebackers at Kansas State from 1987 to 1990.
Ramsey served as an intern with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003, the Green Bay Packers in 1998 and the Chicago Bears in 1991. Teams that Ramsey has coached have been to a number of bowl games including the Outback Bowl with Georgia in 2000, the Carquest Bowl in 1995 and Sugar Bowl in 1994 with West Virginia and two trips to the Citrus Bowl in 1996 and 1997, the Orange Bowl in 1998 and the Fiesta Bowl and National Championship game with Tennessee in January of 1999.
Ramsey was a three-time All-Missouri Valley pick at defensive back while playing at Indiana State from 1980-83. He was a second team All-American as a senior and also played baseball for the Sycamores. He graduated from Indiana State with a degree in Physical Education in 1984.
A native of East St. Louis, Ramsey and his wife Doreen have four daughters- Kajavia, Samiya, Tresnae and Amariell.
