Ron Roberts

Head Coach - First Season
Email coach Roberts

Ron Roberts was introduced as the 17th head football coach at Delta State University on Januray 16, 2007. The defensive coordinator for the Statesmen since 2005 and the architect of the one of the top defenses in the Gulf South Conference, Roberts will assume the reins immediately. His appointment marks the first collegiate head coaching position in his career.

In the last two seasons, Roberts has overseen the revitalization of the Statesman defense.  Last season’s march to the NCAA national semifinals saw the Statesmen led the Gulf South Conference in scoring defense (13.4 ppg), rush defense (83.7 ypg), and total defense (243.9 ypg).  Delta State allowed just 26 touchdowns in 15 games and only surrendered more than 17 points twice. 

The Statesmen concluded 2006 ranked ninth in the NCAA in total defense, 14th in rush defense, seventh in scoring defense, and 25th in pass efficiency defense.  Michael Eubanks, an outside linebacker from Cleveland, was a unanimous All-American selection, and five Statesmen defenders were named to various All-South Region teams.

Prior to joining the DSU staff, Roberts served one season as head coach at Mount Whitney HS in Visalia, Calif., and the 2003 season as defensive coordinator at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

While at TSU, Roberts took over a defense ranked near the bottom in the Southland Conference. Within a year the seasoned coordinator improved TSU’s defense in virtually every statistical category and Texas State placed two defenders on the All-Southland Conference Defensive Team.

Before his journey to Texas State, Roberts spent five seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Tusculum College. During his tenure at the Greeneville, Tenn. school, the Pioneers posted one of the most memorable runs in TC football history.

In 2002, Roberts guided a defense that led the South Atlantic Conference in yards (273) allowed per game and in points per game (15). In 2002, the Pioneers posted a school record 31 turnovers for a +7 margin.

At Tusculum College, Roberts coached 11 All-South Atlantic Conference defensive selections and Ricardo Colclough, a second round National Football League draft pick in 2004.

Prior to joining the Tusculum staff, Roberts served as an assistant coach at Greensboro College in 1998 and was head coach at Burroughs High School (1994-96) in California. While at Burroughs, Roberts guided BHS to its first playoff appearance in 15 years and followed that up with another post-season trip the following year.  He began his coaching career at Houston High School in Germantown, Tenn., as a defensive coordinator.   

Roberts was a two-time All-Conference selection at linebacker at the College of Sequoias in his native Visalia, Calif. He transferred to the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he helped guide them to the 1988 Gulf South Conference Championship. He graduated from UT-Martin with a degree in Sociology and later earned his master’s degree in Education from the University of Memphis in 1992.
           
Roberts is married to the former Didi Walker of Germantown, Tenn.  The couple are the parents of three children; Reed (8), Reilly (6), and Ryan (4). 

The Ron Roberts File:

Years	School	Position
2007-	Delta State University	Head Coach
2005-06	Delta State University	Defensive Coordinator
2004	Mt. Whitney (Calif.) HS	Head Coach
2003	Texas State University	Defensive Coordinator
1998-02	Tusculum College	Asst. Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator
1997	Greensboro College	Defensive Coordinator
1994-96	Burroughs (Calif.) HS	Head Coach
1992-93	Houston (Tenn.) HS	Defensive Coordinator