2012 wmu football record book - Western Michigan University ...

A.J. RICKEROFFENSIVE LINE | RUN GAME COORDSECOND SEASONMISSOURI, 2004RECRUITING AREA(S)CHICAGO, INDIANAWMU announced the return of A.J. Ricker to the WMU football coaching staff on Jan. 12, 2011.Ricker, who served as a graduate assistant in 2006 and 2007, and as an offensive assistant in2008, rejoined the Broncos as the program’s offensive line coach in 2011.The Bronco offensive line boasted All-MAC selection Dann O’Neill in 2011 and saw first year guardKasimili Uitalia start all 13 games. Returning center Kevin Galeher was a 2011 Rimington Trophycandidate under Ricker’s tutelage.Prior to rejoining Western Michigan’s football program, Ricker served one season as the head coachat St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. Ricker served as the Pumas’ offensive line coach in 2009,under WMU’s current defensive line coach Lou Esposito, in 2009. In one season, the offensive lineaveraged 179.5 rushing yards and only allowed two sacks per game. Ricker earned the mantel ofGreat Lakes Football Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in 2009 for his SJC offensive schemeefforts.During his previous tenure at WMU Ricker was hands on with the offensive line, providing supportformer offensive line coaches Bob Stanley and Mike Sullivan. The Bronco offensive line produced a1,000-yard running back and ranked 14th in the nation in sacks allowed in 2006 and blocked foranother 1,000-yard back again in 2008. It also produced a two-time Rimington Trophy candidate inRobbie Krutilla, who was an Outland Trophy candidate in 2007, and a pair of All-Mid-American Conferenceselections in Krutilla and James Blair. Blair was selected to participate in the 2008 Hula BowlAll-Star Classic and the Texas vs. the Nation Challenge.Ricker completed a stellar collegiate career at the University of Missouri, where he earned a degreein agriculture, in 2003 as the center for the Tigers. He holds the school record for consecutive startswith 47, starting 11 games in 2000 and 2001, 12 games in 2002 and a career-high 13 contestsin 2003.The Klein, Texas, native was named First-Team All-Big 12 by the coaches and the Dallas MorningNews in 2003, while also receiving Second-Team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press.Ricker was named Second-Team All-Big 12 by the coaches and received honorable mention for All-Big12 from the AP in 2002. He was also named First-Team Academic All-Big 12 during his junior campaign.His sophomore season was highlighted by being named Third-Team All-Big 12 by the coaches,receiving honorable mention for All-Big 12 from the AP and garnering Second-Team Academic All-Big12 honors in 2001.He signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears in 2004 and was allocated to the Rhein Firein 2005 of NFL Europe where he was named the offensive team captain prior to the season opener.Ricker (32/DOB: 3-29-80), married to the former Lauren Mattaliano, spent the 2006 season, andpart of the 2007 campaign, as a member of the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League.He saw action in 16 games, starting 10 in 2006. He made seven tackles, playing both offense anddefense, and recovered four fumbles.Ricker and his wife, Lauren, reside in Kalamazoo.ALL-MAC UNDER RICKER2011 Dann O’Neill OT Third TeamTHAD WARDWIDE RECEIVERSFIRST SEASONCENTRAL FLORIDA, 2001RECRUITING AREA(S)INNER CITY DETROIT, N. FLORIDAThad Ward was announced as the wide receivers coach at Western Michigan on Feb. 17, 2012.Ward joins the Broncos after building his resume at nearly every level of the game. The 2001 CentralFlorida graduate began his coaching career as a graduate assistant and safeties coach at FloridaA&M (2002). From 2003-05 he was the passing game coordinator, wide receivers, defensive backsand special teams coordinator at Tallahassee Rickards High School as well as the DB coach andrecruiting coordinator at Independence Community College in 2005.During the summer of 2005, Ward served as a graduate assistant at Illinois before joining WesternIllinois as the running backs coach. There he spent six seasons helping build an offense that wouldrank second in the FCS in points per game (35.6) and third in yards per game (457.23) during the2010 campaign. He also helped Walter Camp All-American Herb Donaldson to Missouri Valley OffensivePlayer of the Year and Walter Payton finalist in 2008.During his time at Western Illinois, Ward participated in the NCAA Football Coaches Academy in Mayof 2009 as well as the NFL’s Minority Internship Program with the Baltimore Ravens from May toAugust of the same year.Ward (34/DOB: 9-17-78) joined Gardner-Webb in 2011 as the passing game coordinator and widereceivers coach. He helped James Perry become the all-time receptions leader in the Big SouthConference.He and his wife Jocelyn have two daughters, Jayda and Journie, and a son, Thaddaeus, Jr.JAY STEILBERGDIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONSFIRST SEASONBELLARMINE, 2003Jay Steilberg joined the WMU football staff as director of football operations in June of 2012. Steilbergmost recently served in the same capacity at Ball State.Steilberg, a native of Louisville, Ky., led the operations efforts at Ball State from 2003-11, servingas the program’s operations director until 2008 and then as the assistant athletic director of operationsuntil 2011.Prior to joining the Cardinals, Steilberg served as an assistant football coach at his high school almamater, St. Xavier on two occasions (1994-97, 1999-2000) as well as at DuPont Manual (1998) andFern Creek (2001-02).In 2011, Steilberg stepped away from Ball State but not away from college football as he servedas a national scout with the National Collegiate Scouting Association and worked as a recruitingconsultant as well.Steilberg (40/DOB: 11-3-71) earned his bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine in 2003 and master’sfrom Ball State in 2010.11