UNK Football: Veteran Defensive Coach Added

Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Ruzell McCoy is the Lopers new linebacker's coach and recruiting coordinator.

He replaces Jesse Ornelas who recently left to become defensive coordinator at NAIA Central Methodist University (Lafayette, Mo.). Ornelas had been with the Lopers the past two years.   ​

McCoy spent the 2024 season as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at NAIA Madonna University (Livonia, Mich.). The Crusaders first full football season came just four years ago.

"I'm very excited to have Ruzell McCoy join our staff. I've known Coach McCoy for many years and all the way back to when I recruited him in 2004," said Held. "He has a wide range of experiences from being a head coach, coordinator and position coach.”

An All-American linebacker in his playing days at Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State (Weatherford, Okla.), McCoy has also coached at his alma mater (2019-23), Ellsworth C.C., Iowa (spring 2019), NAIA McPherson College, Kan., Coffeyville C.C., Kan. (2016-17) and Highland C.C., Kan. (2012-13). Held was at coach of the Highland Scotties during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

McCoy served as DC at SWOSU, Ellsworth, McPherson, Coffeyville and Highlands while also working as a defensive line coach (Highland & SWOSU) and linebackers coach (Ellsworth, Coffeyville & Highland). Finally, he was interim head coach at SWOSU during the 2023 season.

"He'll be a great addition to our staff and will help us continue in our quest to build a consistent winning football program," said Held. "We're fired up to have Coach McCoy and his family join our Loper family."

Between 2005-08, the Frederick, Okla., native racked up 238 tackles for the Bulldogs. The total included 44.5 tackles for loss, third most in SWOSU's Division II era. A two-time first-team All-Lone Star Conference (LSC) selection, he also was tabbed the 2008 North Division's Linebacker of the Year. Finally, McCoy was a 2008 first-team Don Hansen Gazette's All-American and SWOSU's Male Athlete of the Year.

He holds two degrees from SWOSU, a bachelor's in Parks & Recreation and a master's in Sports Management. McCoy and his wife, Sara, have three children in Kynna, Trey and Zella. 

UNK is currently going through winter conditioning with spring ball slated to begin on Tuesday, March 25.