George Ricumstrict was named defensive line coach for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football program in 2025 by head coach Alonzo Hampton and was promoted to Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach entering the 2026 season following an immediate impact on the Golden Lions' defense.
In his first season with the Golden Lions, Ricumstrict quickly made his presence felt, helping elevate the play of UAPB's defensive front.
Under his leadership, defensive lineman Marquis Cagle emerged as one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's premier defensive linemen, earning 2026 Preseason Second-Team All-SWAC honors after a breakout campaign. Ricumstrict's ability to develop talent and maximize player performance has continued to strengthen the Golden Lions' defensive identity.
A veteran coach with 34 years of collegiate coaching experience, Ricumstrict has established himself as one of the nation's premier defensive line instructors. Throughout his career, he has developed numerous
All-Conference performers, NFL Draft selections, and professional football players while building defensive units consistently ranked among the nation's best. His reputation for player development, discipline, and defensive fundamentals has made him a respected leader at every stop.
Before joining UAPB, Ricumstrict spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as an assistant coach at Delaware State after serving as defensive line coach at Northwood University during the 2022 season.
Prior to Northwood, Ricumstrict coached defensive tackles at the University at Buffalo for two seasons. During his tenure, Buffalo fielded one of the nation's top defensive fronts. In 2020, the Bulls led the Mid-American Conference in total defense while defensive tackle Eddie Wilson earned Third-Team All-MAC honors after recording 21 tackles and two tackles for loss.
In his first season at Buffalo, Ricumstrict helped engineer one of the country's elite rushing defenses. The Bulls led the MAC and ranked seventh nationally in rushing defense, while former walk-on Chibueze Onwuka earned Third-Team All-MAC recognition after posting career highs with 43 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Ricumstrict previously spent six highly successful seasons coaching the defensive line at Central Michigan, where he developed one of the Mid-American Conference's most dominant defensive units.
In 2017, the Chippewas ranked third nationally in forced turnovers (31) and seventh nationally in interceptions (19). Under Ricumstrict's guidance, defensive end Joe Ostman authored one of the greatest seasons in school history, recording 14 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss while leading the nation in both sacks and sacks per game. Ostman finished his career second in Central Michigan history with 28 career sacks.
That defensive front also featured future NFL defensive end Mike Danna and standout Mitch Stanitzek, helping Central Michigan rank first in the MAC in pass defense while limiting opponents to just five yards per play.
Ricumstrict's earlier Central Michigan defensive lines were equally productive. In 2015, the Chippewas finished No. 2 in total defense in the MAC and 16th nationally among all Football Bowl Subdivision programs. The 2014 defense ranked first in the conference and 29th nationally, led by First-Team All-MAC defensive tackle Leterrius Walton, who was later selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft.
His coaching career began in 1991 as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan and has included coaching positions at Northwood, Wayne State, Michigan State, Army, Missouri Southern, Miami (Ohio), Indiana, Central Missouri, Eastern Illinois, Buffalo, Delaware State, and UAPB.
During his tenure at Indiana from 2005-10, Ricumstrict coached linebackers, defensive ends, and special teams while helping develop several future NFL players. Earlier, at Miami (Ohio), he coached linebackers after returning to Central Michigan from 2000-03, where he coached linebackers and special teams.
As a player, Ricumstrict was a four-year letterwinner at Central Michigan from 1985-88 and concluded his career as one of the program's most accomplished linebackers.
A Second-Team All-MAC selection and the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior, Ricumstrict earned Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors twice during the 1988 season. He finished his senior campaign with 121 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and one fumble recovery, including a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown against Toledo.
For his career, Ricumstrict totaled 266 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Following his senior season, he received the prestigious Kurt Dobronski Award, presented annually to the Central Michigan senior who best exemplifies effort, intensity, leadership, and dedication to the football program.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, and graduate of Northwestern High School, Ricumstrict earned both his bachelor's degree (1990) and master's degree (1992) from Central Michigan University.
He and his wife, Sandy, have two sons, Obie and Anton.
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