Ryan Fullen arrived at Wagner in March, 2010. After serving as a Seahawk secondary and special teams coach for the past five seasons, including both of the Seahawks' NEC championship teams in 2012 and 2014, Fullen enters his second season as defensive coordinator in 2016 while continuing to oversee the secondary.
In 2014, Fullen led a talented, deep and experienced defensive backfield, spearheaded by fifth-year senior All-American and First-Team All-NEC performer, Jarrett Dieudonne, who led the nation with three interception returns for touchdowns last season while finishing No. 2 in total interceptions with seven.
“It’s just a natural progression to have Ryan Fullen in charge of this defense,” said head coach Jason Houghtaling. “He’s a secondary guy by trade and things start from the back forward on defense and you have to protect against the big play. He’s been a part of it now for five years and is ready to go, and I’m excited about what he’ll do on the defensive side of the ball.”
Under Fullen’s tutelage, long-snapper Phil Faccone went on to earn Second-Team All-American recognition by The Sports Network in 2014.
Fullen achieved a rare “triple crown” in 2013, as he helped develop First-Team All-NEC kicker David Lopez, one of the best in school history, First-Team All-NEC punter AJ Firestone, as well as Faccone, who earned Third-Team All-American honors by The Sports Network.
In 2012, Fullen’s units played an integral role in the Seahawks’ run to the NEC title. As a team, the 2012 Seahawk special teams unit ranked No. 1 in kickoff returns (26.8), and second in both kickoff coverage (40.7) and net punting (33.4). Individually, sophomore Otis Wright topped the NEC and ranked ninth nationally at 27.71 yards per kickoff return, including a pair of touchdown returns.
In addition to Dieudonne, who developed into a ball-hawking First-Team All-NEC cornerback with 11 pass breakups and three interceptions, the senior safety tandem of Patrick O’Connor and second-team All-NEC choice Sidiq Soulemana also turned in tremendous seasons under Fullen’s watch during the 2012 NEC Title season, contributing 86 and 85 tackles, respectively. In 2012, freshman Otis Wright also earned a spot on the All-NEC Team as a kick returner.
In 2010, Fullen mentored Seahawk safety Stefen Gage, who led the NEC in interceptions, was a First-Team All-NEC performer and was named team MVP. That season, he also coached dynamic return specialist Frantz Placide, another First-Team All-NEC selection.
Prior to arriving on Grymes Hill, Fullen spent the 2009 season as Linebackers Coach/Video Coordinator at Brockport State, where the Toms River, NJ native mentored All-NJAC and All-ECAC linebacker Nate Bull.
From 2007-2009, Fullen served as a member of the Fordham coaching staff. In his first years with the Rams, he handled all aspects of video editing and film exchanges, before taking over as running backs coach in spring in 2008 where he helped develop running back Xavier Martin into the Patriot League's leading rusher.
Prior to arriving at Fordham, Fullen served as an assistant coach at Arizona Western College, where he was the special teams coordinator/running backs coach from January through May of 2007, which preceded a two-year stint (2005-2006) as an assistant coach at Cortland State, where he was in charge of the cornerbacks. In time stint there, four NJAC All-Conference performers at defensive back.
During his tenure with the Red Dragons, Fullen helped guide Cortland St. to a pair of championships with the 2005 squad advancing to the NCAA playoffs. In addition to assisting with the organization and coaching of special teams at Cortland, he was also responsible for the defensive scouting report and film breakdown of opposing offenses. .
Fullen earned a Bachelor’s degree in history from Salve Regina University in 2005, where he was a three-year starter at safety. In 2002, he earned Defensive Impact Player of the Year honors.
On July 4, 2014, Fullen and his wife Lisa (Gathman) were married.
Fullen covers recruiting for Central New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania for the Seahawks
