Rick Purcell
Assistant Coach (Linebackers)
BIRTHDATE:
March 12, 1970
HOMETOWN:
Cincinnati, Ohio
EDUCATION:
B.S., Notre Dame, 1990 (Biology)
JD, Cincinnati, 1995
COACHING:
Assistant/Head Freshman Coach, LaSalle High (Ohio), 2014
Assistant, Colerain High (Ohio), 2015
Assistant, Warren Central High (Ind.), 2017-18
Assistant Head Coach, Indian Creek High (Ind.), 2019
Head Coach, Eustace Prep (N.J.), 2020
Defensive Assistant/Special Teams Coordinator, William Patterson, 2021
New York Jets Scout School, 2022
Quality Control/Defensive Assistant Secondary, William & Mary, 2022
Defensive Assistant/Strong Safeties Coach, Bryant, 2023
Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator, Shorter, 2024
Defensive Coordinator, Averett, 2025
Assistant Coach, Hampton, 2026-present
A veteran with more than 13 years of experience on the high school and collegiate levels, Rick Purcell joined the Hampton coaching staff in 2026 as linebackers coach on Head Coach Van Malone’s staff.
No stranger to success, he was a defensive back for Notre Dame’s 1988 National Championship and wins in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl over West Virginia and the 1990 Orange Bowl where the Irish beat Colorado under Head Coach Lou Holtz.
Purcell spent six years on the high school levels in both his native Ohio and in New Jersey. He began his coaching career at Cincinnati’s LaSalle High where he helped the Lancers win conference and state championships and a No. 7 national ranking with notable players as Josh Whyle (Tennessee Titans) and Thayer Munford (New England Patriots). He worked with Darrian Beavers (New York Giants) at Colerain High in 2015 where the Cardinals
finished 12-2 and advanced to the 6A State Final Four. He also worked with Ivan Pace Jr. (Minnesota Vikings) while with Colerain; Purcell also coached Pace Jr. as a youth player.
At Warren Central High, he was secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator where David Bell (Cleveland Browns and Julius Brents (Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins) helped lead the Warriors to the 2018 6A State crown. Working at Indian Creek High in 2019, he helped lead the team to the first conference championship in school history. At Eustace Prep, he developed four college players (Michael Hamilton, Maine) in 2020 as head football coach and Director of Advancement.
Moving to the collegiate level, Purcell After a season at William Patterson as special team coordinator, defensive passing game coordinator and safeties coach, he spent time with the New York Jets Scout School in 2022. Purcell was defensive assistant secondary/quality control coach at CAA rival William & Mary in 2022. The Tribe won the CAA title where he helped develop Nate Lynn (Detroit Lions), John Pius (Cleveland Browns minicamp invitee), Ryan Poole (San Francisco 49ers minicamp invitee), and 2026 draft prospect Jalen Jones.
In 2023, he served as defensive assistant/strong safeties coach/ junior varsity defensive coordinator at Bryant, a member of the OVC-Big South, where he helped coach Kenny Dyson Jr. (Carolina Panthers). Purcell moved to Shorter in 2024 where the team recorded 18 sacks, 61 tackles for loss, and recovered eight fumbles. At Averett in 2025, he served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach before moving to Hampton.
He and his wife, Rahquel, have two children, Roman (24) and Falyn (28).
