In his second go with the Valdosta State football program, Ryan McNamara is in his first year as the defensive backs coach with the Blazers.
McNamara first served with Valdosta State from 2007 through 2009, when he worked as a graduate assistant. He split time on the offensive and defensive side of the ball during his first three years with the Blazers as he worked with the tight ends in his initial season, during which VSU won the 2007 national championship, before moving to defense for the final three years. On the defensive side of the ball, McNamara worked with the defensive backs, outside linebackers and defensive ends. He also was in charge of the frontline of the Valdosta State kick-off return unit and assisted with the game plan for special teams each week. Additionally, McNamara signaled in defensive play calls and had a hand in recruiting as he worked Texas, Northwest Georgia and California Junior Colleges.
Upon leaving Valdosta State, McNamara spent four seasons on the staff at Mississippi State. In his first three seasons with the Bulldogs, McNamara was a defensive graduate assistant and worked with the defensive backs, specifically the team’s nicklebacks. The squad won a pair of bowl games during his first three seasons - the 2010 Gator Bowl and the 2011 Music City Bowl, and worked with 2011 All-SEC Freshman member Matthew Wells, who tallied 114 tackles and two forced fumbles on the year.
McNamara was named the team’s defensive quality control coordinator and assistant defensive back coach in 2013 and helped with the weekly defensive game planning. McNamara worked with the cornerbacks during the 2013 season, during which the team won the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. During his time at Mississippi State, McNamara also aided in recruiting as he worked the Houston area, as well as North Alabama and South Florida.
McNamara earned his Bachelors in Business Administration from Florida in 2005 and went on to garner a Masters of Business Administration from VSU in 2009 and a Masters in Community College Education in 2012.
