|
With a coaching background entering its 20th year, Rick Courtright begins his fourth season on the Cardinals staff and his first as the assistant defensive backs coach. As the defensive quality control coach for the past three seasons (2004-06), Courtright was instrumental in helping to guide strong safety Adrian Wilson to his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2006.
A native of Miami, FL, Courtright began his coaching career as defensive coordinator at Hendricks (MN) High School in 1988, then moved to head coach at Teton County High School in Driggs, ID for two seasons (1989-90). He was then part of the University of Washington staff in 1991-92 that produced two Pac-10 Conference titles, a pair of Rose Bowl appearances, and the 1991 National Championship.
Following his two seasons as assistant offensive line coach at Washington, he joined the staff at Minnesota-Morris as defensive line coach, strength coach, and academic coordinator in 1993. He coached defensive ends at Ohio University in 1994, then served as outside linebackers coach at Idaho State (1995) and as linebackers coach, tight ends coach, special teams coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at the University of Idaho (1996-99) before serving one season (2000) as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Murray State. Prior to his appointment with the Cardinals, Courtright spent three seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Western Illinois (2001-03).
Courtright was an all-state linebacker at Miami Christian High School, and played college football at Wheaton (IL) College where he earned a degree in physical education in 1983, which he later complemented with a degree in sports pedagogy (the science of teaching) from Idaho in 1999. Married to his wife Lois, Courtright was born January 4, 1961. | 