KEARNEY, Neb. — Nebraska-Kearney head football coach Ryan Held is turning to one of his former players to serve as an assistant coach.

Held announced Tuesday that Ruzell McCoy will be the next linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at UNK. He replaces Jesse Ornelas, who left to become defensive coordinator at NAIA Central Methodist University last week.

McCoy comes to the Lopers with several years of experience as a defensive coordinator. He served in that role at NAIA Madonna University last season and was DC at Div. ll Southwestern Oklahoma State (SWOSU) from 2019-2023. He previously worked as an assistant coach at Ellsworth C.C. (Iowa), NAIA McPherson College, Coffeyville C.C. (Kansas) and Highland C.C. (Kansas). McCoy was interim head coach at SWOSU in 2023.

"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.”

McCoy played for Held from 2005-2008 at SWOSU, which is in Frederick, OK. He racked up 238 career tackles, earned two first-team all-conference honors and was a first-team All-American in 2008.

"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."

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

The Lopers went 5-6 in 2024 in the second season under Held.