Hunley enters his second season after being named Executive Director, Player Relations and External Development in 2024, following three seasons as defensive line coach.
Most recently, Hunley was inducted into the
Arizona Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025. Hunley was drafted seventh overall in the 1984 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and would play in 91 games over seven seasons for the Broncos, the Cardinals and the Raiders. He would go on to become the fifth Arizona alum to play in the Super Bowl as he was a member of both Denver Broncos teams that played in Super Bowls XXI and XXII. Hunley was elected executive vice president of the NFL Players Association, serving a term from 1990 to 1992.
During his first season with Arizona in 2021 he produced arguably the most successful position group in the Wildcats locker room. The Cats defensive line combined for 39.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks while producing two All-Pac-12 honorees in Kyon Barrs (second team) and Trevon Mason (HM). Barrs led the team with five sacks, the most by a Wildcat since 2017, and ranked fifth in the conference in sacks per game. Arizona finished the year ranked fifth in the Pac-12 in sacks per game, while their average of 5.8 TFL per game ranked second on the circuit.
Hunley played a key role in building Arizona's 2022 signing class that ranked second in the Pac-12 (22nd nationally) and included the first five-star signee in program history.
Hunley's previous coaching stop saw him leading the Memphis defensive line from 2014 to 2015, where he helped coach the Tigers to a combined 19 wins and two bowl game appearances, including a win over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl in 2014.
In 2014, Memphis ranked 11th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 19.5 points per game. The Tigers ranked 27th nationally in total defense, giving up 349.5 yards an outing. Memphis’ 106.31 defensive pass efficiency rating led the American Athletic Conference and ranked eighth nationally while the Tigers’ 121.5 rushing defense average was 19th nationally.
Hunley coached defensive end Martin Ifedi in 2014, who was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams in the 2015 NFL Draft. Ifedi recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss during the 2014 season and also became Memphis’ all-time leader in sacks.
His time in Memphis was preceded by 10 seasons in the professional coaching ranks, including time with the NFL's Oakland Raiders (linebackers, 2011), Cincinnati Bengals (linebackers, 2003-07), and Washington Redskins (defensive line, 2002) in addition to three years with the United Football League's California Redwoods/Sacramento Mountain Lions (defensive coordinator, 2009-11).
As the linebackers coach for the Raiders in 2011, he coached Rolando McClain and Kamerion Wimbley who combined for 162 tackles and 12 sacks. The duo also combined for 23 tackles for loss as Wimbley had 15 on his own.
In his five years coaching linebackers for the Bengals, Hunley coached Landon Johnson, who had at least 85 tackles in all four seasons he coached him. Johnson racked up 113 tackles and three forced fumbles in the 2006 season and followed that up with 109 tackles in 2007. In 2005, the Bengals won the NFC North and ranked No. 1 in the NFL in takeaways and interceptions and were sixth in the league in fumbles recovered. He also Coached Brian Simmons, Nate webster, David Pollack and Odell Thurman during his time in Cincinnati.
In his one season with the Washington Redskins in 2002, Hunley coached hall of famer Bruce Smith, who had nine sacks and 11 tackles for loss in his penultimate season. Hunley also coached Dan Wilkerson, Darryl Gardner and Renaldo Wynn while coaching in Washington..
In 2001, Hunley coached the defensive linemen at Florida and helped the Gators to a 10-2 record and a final ranking of No. 3 under Steve Spurrier. He coached Outland Trophy finalist Alex Brown, who had 10.5 sacks and 13.5 for a loss in 2001 and would go on to be drafted in the fourth round in the 2002 NFL Draft.
During his seven seasons coaching at Missouri, he helped lead the Tigers to a pair of bowl games in 1997 and 1998, including an appearance at the Insight.com Bowl in Tucson in 1998 where the Tigers beat West Virginia and coached 10 All-Big-12 honorees at the defensive line and linebacker positions at Missouri.
Hunley began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at USC from 1992-93 under head coaches Larry Smith and John Robinson. He then spent seven years in the Big Eight/12 at Missouri coaching the defensive line and linebackers while earning the designation of associate head coach for his final three years with the Tigers. Hunley also spent one year coaching defensive line at Florida in 2001.
Off the field, Hunley was selected as the participant for the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program with the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s been a member of the Board of Directors for the Black Coaches Association, was a representative for the SEC and Big 12 on the American Football Coaches Association, was a member of the Minority Issues Committee for the Black Coaches Association, was a member of the Coach of the Year Committee for the AFCA and is the founder of the Ricky Hunley Annual Non-Profit Instructional Football Camp for Kids in Tucson, Arizona.
Ricky is the father of two daughters.
