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University of Massachusets Athletics
Football
Pinkham, Ed
Ed Pinkham
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
- Email:
- epinkham@umass.edu
- Phone:
- 545-2026
Year at Massachuetts: Second
Alma Mater: Allegheny College '75
University of Massachusetts football announced Ed Pinkham as the team's defensive coordinator in Feb., 2017. Now entering his second season on-staff, Pinkham holds more than 30 years of experience and oversees the Maroon and White secondary in addition to his duties as the team's defensive coordinator.
Defense was paramount to Massachusetts football's second half success in 2017, as the Minutemen limited foes to 22.0 points per game during the victories over Appalachian State, BYU, Georgia Southern and Maine. Following the season, seven defensive Minutemen collected Phil Steele All-Independent in Ali Ali-Musa, Bryton Barr, Steve Casali, Da'Sean Downey, Sha-Ki Holines, Jesse Monteiro and Isaiah Rodgers, while Barr, Downey and Rodgers also reeled in All-ECAC as well.
Under Pinkham's guidance, the UMass defense raked in the third-most pass breakups in team history (57) and posted half-dozen additional top-10 marks, including for interceptions returned for touchdowns (two; tied-fourth), tackles for loss (83.0; seventh), total interceptions (13; tied-seventh), interception return yards (207; eighth), TFL yards (305; ninth) and fumbles forced (10; tied-10th).
When only including the team's FBS seasons (2012-present), the 13 interceptions, 83.0 tackles for loss, 305 TFL yards, two interceptions returned for touchdowns and 57 pass breakups all rank as the most in one campaign.
Pinkham spent 2013-16 at Western Michigan as the defensive coordinator. He led the Broncos’ defense in their 13-0 regular season, MAC Championship victory and Cotton Bowl appearance. Pinkham’s unit ranked No. 8 in defensive touchdowns across the nation, No. 15 in scoring defense, No. 18 in turnovers gained, No. 22 in interceptions forced and No. 26 in total defense.
The 2016 season also saw WMU’s defense hold three Big Ten opponents (Wisconsin, Northwestern and Illinois) to an average of 18.3 points per game and shut out two MAC opponents (Akron and Buffalo). The 2014 Broncos’ cornerbacks, Donald Celiscar and Ronald Zamort, tied each other for the national lead in passes defended per game with 1.6 per game
Pinkham was Rutgers’ defensive coordinator from 2009-10 and secondary coach in 2008. He guided the 2009 Rutgers defense, which included Devin and Jason McCourty, to national top-20 rankings in five statistical categories: tackles for loss (No. 1), turnover margin (No. 2), rush defense (No. 15), scoring defense (No. 16) and total defense (No. 18). Also in 2009, Rutgers’ defense held opponents to 15 points or less seven times and the Scarlet Knight secondary ranked second in the BIG EAST defending the pass.
Pinkham spent the 1996-2007 seasons at Colgate. His units led the Patriot League in defense in 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2006 and, in 2007, the Raiders ranked No. 10 nationally against the run, No. 22 in total defense and No. 26 in scoring defense.
Pinkham’s previous stops also include Elon, Holy Cross, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Allegheny College.
A 1975 graduate of Allegheny College, Pinkham is a native of Clark, New Jersey. He was a four-year letterwinner, four-time all-conference honoree and an Associated Press Second-Team All-American at safety for the Gators.
Pinkham and his wife, Karen, are the parents of Matt, Kelly and Jessica.
Alma Mater: Allegheny College '75
University of Massachusetts football announced Ed Pinkham as the team's defensive coordinator in Feb., 2017. Now entering his second season on-staff, Pinkham holds more than 30 years of experience and oversees the Maroon and White secondary in addition to his duties as the team's defensive coordinator.
Defense was paramount to Massachusetts football's second half success in 2017, as the Minutemen limited foes to 22.0 points per game during the victories over Appalachian State, BYU, Georgia Southern and Maine. Following the season, seven defensive Minutemen collected Phil Steele All-Independent in Ali Ali-Musa, Bryton Barr, Steve Casali, Da'Sean Downey, Sha-Ki Holines, Jesse Monteiro and Isaiah Rodgers, while Barr, Downey and Rodgers also reeled in All-ECAC as well.
Under Pinkham's guidance, the UMass defense raked in the third-most pass breakups in team history (57) and posted half-dozen additional top-10 marks, including for interceptions returned for touchdowns (two; tied-fourth), tackles for loss (83.0; seventh), total interceptions (13; tied-seventh), interception return yards (207; eighth), TFL yards (305; ninth) and fumbles forced (10; tied-10th).
When only including the team's FBS seasons (2012-present), the 13 interceptions, 83.0 tackles for loss, 305 TFL yards, two interceptions returned for touchdowns and 57 pass breakups all rank as the most in one campaign.
Pinkham spent 2013-16 at Western Michigan as the defensive coordinator. He led the Broncos’ defense in their 13-0 regular season, MAC Championship victory and Cotton Bowl appearance. Pinkham’s unit ranked No. 8 in defensive touchdowns across the nation, No. 15 in scoring defense, No. 18 in turnovers gained, No. 22 in interceptions forced and No. 26 in total defense.
The 2016 season also saw WMU’s defense hold three Big Ten opponents (Wisconsin, Northwestern and Illinois) to an average of 18.3 points per game and shut out two MAC opponents (Akron and Buffalo). The 2014 Broncos’ cornerbacks, Donald Celiscar and Ronald Zamort, tied each other for the national lead in passes defended per game with 1.6 per game
Pinkham was Rutgers’ defensive coordinator from 2009-10 and secondary coach in 2008. He guided the 2009 Rutgers defense, which included Devin and Jason McCourty, to national top-20 rankings in five statistical categories: tackles for loss (No. 1), turnover margin (No. 2), rush defense (No. 15), scoring defense (No. 16) and total defense (No. 18). Also in 2009, Rutgers’ defense held opponents to 15 points or less seven times and the Scarlet Knight secondary ranked second in the BIG EAST defending the pass.
Pinkham spent the 1996-2007 seasons at Colgate. His units led the Patriot League in defense in 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2006 and, in 2007, the Raiders ranked No. 10 nationally against the run, No. 22 in total defense and No. 26 in scoring defense.
Pinkham’s previous stops also include Elon, Holy Cross, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Allegheny College.
A 1975 graduate of Allegheny College, Pinkham is a native of Clark, New Jersey. He was a four-year letterwinner, four-time all-conference honoree and an Associated Press Second-Team All-American at safety for the Gators.
Pinkham and his wife, Karen, are the parents of Matt, Kelly and Jessica.
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