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University of Minnesota Athletics
Brewster Announces Ronnie Lee As Defensive Secondary Coach
2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
University of Minnesota head football coach Tim Brewster has finalized the hiring of his coaching staff by announcing Ronnie Lee as defensive secondary coach.
“I am happy to announce the hiring of Ronnie Lee as our secondary coach,” said Brewster. “Ronnie will be an outstanding addition to the University of Minnesota. He brings the same energy and intensity that has already been witnessed by our current coaching staff. He also has tremendous experience coaching in the Big Ten and has enjoyed success at that level.”
Lee, 40, comes to Minnesota from Michigan, where he spent last season as the secondary coach and also worked with the Wolverines’ punt return team. Lee’s unit played a major role in Michigan finishing the 2006 campaign ranked 10th nationally in overall defense and 15th in scoring defense. The Wolverines also ranked third in the Big Ten in punt return average and 35th nationally. Under the tutelage of Lee, Wolverine cornerback Leon Hall was selected first-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media in 2006. Hall was one of only two players chosen unanimously by both the coaches and media.
Prior to working with the Wolverines, Lee was the defensive backs coach at Wisconsin from 2003-05. As defensive backs coach for the Badgers, Lee coached safety Jim Leonhard to first-team All-Big Ten and All-America honors in 2003 and 2004. Leonhard tied Jamar Fletcher for the most career interceptions at Wisconsin with 21. Lee helped the Badgers to three consecutive bowl games, the 2003 Music City Bowl, 2005 Outback Bowl and 2006 Capital One Bowl.
Prior to his appointment with the Badgers, Lee was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at San Jose State from 2001-02. In 2002, the Spartans ranked third nationally in interceptions (23) and fourth in turnovers gained (38). Lee was also the only coach who had three players ranked among the top 100 nationally in interceptions in 2002.
Before joining the San Jose State staff, Lee spent eight seasons at Colorado State (1993-2000) working with the defensive backs. Lee helped coach the Rams to five conference titles during that stretch and aided in the Rams leading the nation in turnover margin during the 1997 season. He also coached Greg Myers, the winner of the 1995 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.
Lee spent a year each at Idaho (1992) as defensive backs coach and Portland State (1991) as defensive backs/special teams coach, helping both schools to conference championships. He was a graduate assistant coach at Miami (Fla.) from 1989-90 and was a member of the Hurricanes' 1989 national championship staff.
Ten of Lee’s players have played in the NFL, including most recently, Wisconsin's Scott Starks, who was a third-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. Lee has been involved in 12 bowl games during his career, one as a player at Washington State (1988 Aloha Bowl) and 11 as an assistant coach.
A native of Tulare, Calif., Lee earned his bachelor's degree from Washington State in 1989. He was a four-year letterman at defensive back (1985-88) for the Cougars and led the Pac-10 Conference in fumbles forced in 1986.
Lee and his wife, Eileen, have five children: Aubree, Jamison, Kayla, Christopher and Madison.
2007 GOPHER FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Tim Brewster
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Mike Dunbar
Defensive Coordinator: Everett Withers
Recruiting Coordinator: Daniel Berezowitz
Linebackers/Special Teams: John Butler
Defensive Line: Tim Cross
Running Backs: Thomas Hammock
Head Strength & Conditioning: Mark Hill
Secondary: Ronnie Lee
Tight Ends/Asst. Special Teams: Derek Lewis
Wide Receivers: George McDonald
Offensive Line: Phil Meyer
Asst. Strength & Conditioning: Will Peoples
Director of Football Operations: Randy Taylor
“I am happy to announce the hiring of Ronnie Lee as our secondary coach,” said Brewster. “Ronnie will be an outstanding addition to the University of Minnesota. He brings the same energy and intensity that has already been witnessed by our current coaching staff. He also has tremendous experience coaching in the Big Ten and has enjoyed success at that level.”
Lee, 40, comes to Minnesota from Michigan, where he spent last season as the secondary coach and also worked with the Wolverines’ punt return team. Lee’s unit played a major role in Michigan finishing the 2006 campaign ranked 10th nationally in overall defense and 15th in scoring defense. The Wolverines also ranked third in the Big Ten in punt return average and 35th nationally. Under the tutelage of Lee, Wolverine cornerback Leon Hall was selected first-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media in 2006. Hall was one of only two players chosen unanimously by both the coaches and media.
Prior to working with the Wolverines, Lee was the defensive backs coach at Wisconsin from 2003-05. As defensive backs coach for the Badgers, Lee coached safety Jim Leonhard to first-team All-Big Ten and All-America honors in 2003 and 2004. Leonhard tied Jamar Fletcher for the most career interceptions at Wisconsin with 21. Lee helped the Badgers to three consecutive bowl games, the 2003 Music City Bowl, 2005 Outback Bowl and 2006 Capital One Bowl.
Prior to his appointment with the Badgers, Lee was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at San Jose State from 2001-02. In 2002, the Spartans ranked third nationally in interceptions (23) and fourth in turnovers gained (38). Lee was also the only coach who had three players ranked among the top 100 nationally in interceptions in 2002.
Before joining the San Jose State staff, Lee spent eight seasons at Colorado State (1993-2000) working with the defensive backs. Lee helped coach the Rams to five conference titles during that stretch and aided in the Rams leading the nation in turnover margin during the 1997 season. He also coached Greg Myers, the winner of the 1995 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.
Lee spent a year each at Idaho (1992) as defensive backs coach and Portland State (1991) as defensive backs/special teams coach, helping both schools to conference championships. He was a graduate assistant coach at Miami (Fla.) from 1989-90 and was a member of the Hurricanes' 1989 national championship staff.
Ten of Lee’s players have played in the NFL, including most recently, Wisconsin's Scott Starks, who was a third-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. Lee has been involved in 12 bowl games during his career, one as a player at Washington State (1988 Aloha Bowl) and 11 as an assistant coach.
A native of Tulare, Calif., Lee earned his bachelor's degree from Washington State in 1989. He was a four-year letterman at defensive back (1985-88) for the Cougars and led the Pac-10 Conference in fumbles forced in 1986.
Lee and his wife, Eileen, have five children: Aubree, Jamison, Kayla, Christopher and Madison.
2007 GOPHER FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Tim Brewster
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Mike Dunbar
Defensive Coordinator: Everett Withers
Recruiting Coordinator: Daniel Berezowitz
Linebackers/Special Teams: John Butler
Defensive Line: Tim Cross
Running Backs: Thomas Hammock
Head Strength & Conditioning: Mark Hill
Secondary: Ronnie Lee
Tight Ends/Asst. Special Teams: Derek Lewis
Wide Receivers: George McDonald
Offensive Line: Phil Meyer
Asst. Strength & Conditioning: Will Peoples
Director of Football Operations: Randy Taylor
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