University of Arizona Athletics

Vince Amey enters his second season as the defensive line coach after previously serving in other roles since joining Rich Rodriguez’s staff in 2012. Most recently, Amey was a defensive analyst in 2015.

Amey’s first season with Arizona’s defensive line saw him develop a young and undersized unit. Hard-nosed Parker Zellers continued to be a force in the middle, forcing two fumbles and racking up three sacks despite his undersized frame. Walk-ons Justin Belknap and Larry Tharpe Jr. emerged as two promising players at defensive end in coming years, combining for 32 tackles, five for losses, along with five pass breakups. Senior team captain Sani Fuimaono capped his career by leading the front line with 19 stops.

As an analyst, Amey assisted with the day-to-day duties of program management with a focus on film breakdown. Previously, he spent three seasons working with the Wildcats’ strength and conditioning staff.

Amey came to the program with several years of football coaching and playing experience. Prior to his arrival in Tucson in 2012, he served as defensive line coach at Chaparral High School in Phoenix, the 2011 Arizona State Champions.

In addition to coaching at Chaparral, Amey has two years coaching experience at McClintock High School, two years at Westwood High School and three years as defensive coordinator at St. Mary's (Phoenix) High School. Amey also served as the defensive coordinator of the Stockton Lightning for the 2009 season in the Arena League.

He played in the NFL, originally drafted by the Oakland Raiders, in NFL Europe and in the Arena League. He was a member of the 1999 NFL Europe Championship team with the Frankfurt Galaxy and is an eight-year veteran of the Arena Football League, spending a significant amount of his career with the Arizona Rattlers.

Amey was a four-year letterman at Arizona State as a defensive tackle. He played as a true freshman in 1994, was a member of the 1996 and 1997 Pac-10 Championship teams, started at defensive tackle in the 1997 Rose Bowl and was named Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

Amey and his wife, Kelley, have sons Myles and twins, Dallas and Jackson.