E.J. Junior - Defensive Coordinator Linebackers Coach

E.J. Junior, in his third season at SBU, has been promoted to Defensive Coordinator.  "E.J. has done a good job with his position players and I expect that to spill over into the Defense.  His competitive nature and fiery spirit is what this Defense needs."

Being an ordained minister helps him fit into our program and understand the expectations both on and off the field. It is with great luck and destiny that somebody of his caliber can come in here and coach our linebackers. Our kids will really benefit from that."

Junior brought a variety of football experiences to SBU, having played 13 years in the NFL for the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and Seattle Seahawks. He was taken in the first round of the NFL draft in 1981 by the St. Louis Cardinals and was the second overall linebacker taken behind Lawrence Taylor. His draft class also included such greats as Ronnie Lott and Mike Singletary. In his 13 years in the NFL, he was an all-Pro twice and named to the first-ever All-Madden team. In 1990, he played in the NFL playoffs for the Miami Dolphins where they won in the first round game before falling to the eventual Super Bowl runner-up Buffalo Bills.

Junior had a stellar college career as he was a two-time all-American for the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant at Alabama. He won two national championships at Alabama (1978 & 1979), was the SEC Player of the Year, and was a three-time all-SEC selection. He was also a Lombardi Award finalist.

Since leaving the NFL, Junior has impacted many lives in different areas. He became an ordained minister and has spoken on the cable network TBN several times about his testimony. He has also been the executive director of youth programs in Miami under the NBA's Alonzo Mourning. He also spent time back in the NFL as a coach and in the front office. He was the Seattle Seahawks linebacker coach in 1994 and then was the director of player development programs for the Miami Dolphins from 1996-98. He has been a minority intern coach for the Minnesota Vikings (2003) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2005) and coached in NFL Europe for the Rhein Fire in Düsseldorf, Germany. On the college setting, he coached the linebackers at the 2005 and 2006 East-West Shrine Game.

Junior received a huge honor in April 2006 when he was inducted into the Nashville (TN) Public Schools Hall of Fame for his high school play at Maplewood H.S. Then, in January 2007, he will be inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame.

Junior and his wife Yulonda have been married since 1993 and have eight children, with ages ranging from 25 years to 3 months.