Ed Pinkham joined the Elon staff as the Phoenix's defensive coordinator in February of 2011 after spending the previous three seasons as the secondary coach and two years as the co-defensive coordinator at Rutgers University.
Pinkham’s return to the FCS level saw his defensive unit rate third nationally against the pass as Elon allowed an average of just 153.55 yards per game through the air. The unit also rated in the top 40 nationally in total defense. The Phoenix defense amassed 17 sacks, besting its total from the previous season by four.
Senior linebacker Joshua Jones thrived in his year in Pinkham’s aggressive defense as he racked up a career-high 112 total tackles on his way to all-league and All-America honors. Jones’ 17.0 tackles for a loss had him rated 20th in the country in that category. Linebacker Jonathan Spain also earned freshman All-America accolades.
In his first season as co-defensive coordinator, Pinkham helped the Rutgers defense reach great heights as the Scarlet Knights ranked in the top-20 in five categories, including leading the nation in tackles for loss and ranking second in turnover margin. Rutgers was 15th in the country in rushing defense, 16th in scoring defense and 18th in total defense.
Pinkham managed a defensive secondary that ranked second in the BIG EAST Conference in passing defense in two of his three seasons. He also helped mentor a trio of Scarlet Knights that moved onto the professional ranks in cornerback Jason McCourty (Tennessee Titans), safety Courtney Greene (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Devin McCourty (New England Patriots).
Prior to joining the Scarlet Knights, Pinkham spent 12 seasons in charge of the defensive unit at Colgate University. Pinkham began his stint at Colgate in 1996 coaching the secondary while also serving as defensive coordinator. At the conclusion of the 2005 campaign, Pinkham was promoted to associate head coach. He continued his duties as defensive coordinator while also overseeing the linebacking corps his final two years at Colgate.
During his tenure at Colgate, the Raiders captured five Patriot League titles and earned five trips to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The defensive unit led the Patriot League in total defense in 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2006, and three times paced the league in rushing defense.
Pinkham’s defensive unit ranked top-10 in the nation in rushing defense three times, twice in passing defense and once in total defense. The Raiders were fifth in the nation in pass efficiency defense and ninth in total defense in 2004. In 1999, he directed the Raiders to one of their greatest defensive efforts while setting the school record for fewest total yards and rushing yards allowed in a season.
Prior to Colgate, Pinkham was defensive coordinator and associate head coach at the College of the Holy Cross for four seasons. For the first two seasons he coached the outside linebackers, before moving over to the secondary. He also enjoyed a 12-year stint at the University of New Hampshire, where he was secondary coach during his entire stay and defensive coordinator the last seven seasons. In 1989, he joined the staff at the University of Minnesota as secondary coach.
With over 30 years of coaching experience, Pinkham began his coaching career in 1975 at his alma mater, Allegheny, where he was a four-year starter at free safety. While at Allegheny, he earned All-President’s Athletic Conference honors all four years and in his senior season, received second-team Associated Press All-America honors. Pinkham also captained the Gators’ conference winning team.
Pinkham, a native of Clark, N.J., graduated from Allegheny College in 1975 with a degree in economics. He and his wife, Karen, have three children: Matt, Kelly and Jessie.
