George Ricumstrict officially joined the Delaware State staff on Feb. 1, 2023, appointed by head coach Lee Hull. Ricumstrict most recently served as an assistant coach at Northwood University (Mich.) of the NCAA Div. II Great Northwest Conference during the 2022 season.
Prior to Northwood, he was the defensive tackles coach at the University at Buffalo for two seasons after spending the previous six years as the defensive line coach at Central Michigan.
Keyed by strong play along the front line, Buffalo led the Mid-America Conference in total defense in 2020. Defensive tackle Eddie Wilson was an All-MAC Third Team selection after registering 21 tackles and two tackles for loss.
In his first season as defensive tackles coach, Ricumstrict's unit played a key role in the Bulls' rushing defense which led the Mid-American Conference and ranked seventh in the nation. Chibueze Onwuka, a former walk-on, was an All-MAC Third Team selection after registering 43 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks - all career highs.
In 2017, Ricumstrict led a unit that played a critical role on a Chippewa defense that ranked third in the nation with 31 forced turnovers and ranked seventh with 19Â interceptions.
Ricumstrict protégé Joe Ostman wrapped up his CMU career in 2017 as one of the very best to ever play on the defensive front for the Chippewas. Ostman finished his career with 28 sacks, ranking second in program history in that category. In 2017, Ostman made 14 sacks, the second-highest total ever by a Chippewa, as he led the nation in total sacks and in sacks per game (1.27). He posted 20.5 tackles-for-loss.
Ricumstrict's defensive front, which also featured the likes of mainstay Mitch Stanitzek and up-and-coming Mike Danna, was unquestionably a major factor on a Chippewa defense that ranked No. 1 against the pass in the Mid-American Conference and limited opposing offenses to five yards per play, which ranked second in the league.
Among the many other highlights of Ricumstrict's tenure on the CMU coaching staff is the 2015 D line that led CMU's ascension to a No. 2 overall defense -- and No. 16 ranking among all Football Bowl Subdivision programs -- in the MAC; and the 2014 unit, that ranked No. 1 in the MAC and 29th in FBS.
Among the leaders of that 2014 unit was tackle Leterrius Walton, a First Team All-MAC selection who was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft.
Ricumstrict's coaching career spans two decades, all at the collegiate level, beginning in 1991 as a graduate assistant at CMU. He has served in a variety of coaching roles at Northwood (1993-94), Wayne State (1995), Michigan State (1996), Army (1997), and Missouri Southern (1998-99) before returning to CMU to coach linebackers and special teams from 2000-03.
Ricumstrict moved on to Miami (Ohio) in 2004 to serve as the linebackers coach. He then went to Indiana were he coached special teams, linebackers, and defensive ends from 2005-10.
In 2011, Ricumstrict worked as an assistant at Central Missouri and in 2012 at Eastern Illinois before returning to Mount Pleasant in 2013.
Ricumstrict was a four-year letterman from 1985-88 at CMU. He was named the Chippewas' Most Valuable Player and received Second Team All-MAC recognition as an inside linebacker as a senior.
Ricumstrict was twice honored that season as the MAC Defensive Player of the Week, the first for a 10-tackle performance against Montana State; and the second for a 10-stop, two-interception ledger against Toledo. He returned one of those picks against the Rockets 71 yards for a touchdown.
He finished the season with 121 total tackles, including 71 solos and 11 for loss, and he had three interceptions and one fumble recovery.
In 1988, Ricumstrict received the Kurt Dobronski Award, an honor presented annually to the Central Michigan senior who demonstrates great effort, intensity and appreciation for the football program.
The Detroit native and Northwestern High School graduate compiled 266 total tackles (126 solos), 18 stops for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three interceptions during his CMU career.
Ricumstrict earned both his bachelor's degree (1990) and master's degree (1992) from CMU. Ricumstrict and his wife Sandy have two sons, Obie and Anton. Anton chose to attend and compete at Delaware State after previously signing with Buffalo.
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