Raymond Monica joined the Southeastern Louisiana football staff as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach in January 2019. Prior to the 2021 season, he was elevated to defensive coordinator and began working with the team’s linebackers.
In the 2020 season played in the spring of 2021, Monica coached a defensive line that battled through injuries throughout the campaign. Under Monica’s leadership, redshirt freshman Darrius Harry made the most of his opportunity, earning second team All-Southland Conference recognition.
In his first season, Monica helped the Lions rank in the top 10 nationally in both tackles for loss (8th) and sacks (9th). Under his direction, senior Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 CFL Draft, was named All-Louisiana and All-Southland Conference, while also becoming the first player in program history to earn Academic All-America honors. Sophomore Josh Carr Jr. also was named to HERO Sports Sophomore All-America team.
The Garyville, Louisiana native and East St. John High School alumnus came to Hammond with nearly three decades of collegiate coaching experience.
Monica spent the previous six seasons as head coach at Division II Arkansas Tech. During his tenure, the Wonder Boys made a pair of postseason bowl appearances.
Prior to his time in Arkansas, he spent seven seasons as the head coach at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Monica led the Golden Bears to consecutive playoff appearances in 2010 and 2011, including the program’s first-ever Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference championship in 2011.
Monica’s 2011 squad finished the season ranked sixth in the national rankings. The finish in the rankings and the 11 wins posted by KU in 2011 marked the best showings in the history of the program.
A 1990 graduate of North Alabama, he started his full-time coaching career at his alma mater following graduation. Monica served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the Lions, who won consecutive national championships in 1993, 1994 and 1995 under head coach Bobby Wallace.
In 1997, Monica went with Wallace to Temple, where he would spend the next eight seasons. Monica was the Owls’ defensive coordinator throughout his tenure, serving as assistant head coach in each of the final seven seasons.
During his time in Philadelphia, Monica was named one of the top assistant coaches in the country by Sports Illustrated in its 2003 College Football preview. Described by the publication as one of the nation’s “Wise Guides”, Monica was lauded by SI for being “the best in the nation at getting ordinary players to do extraordinary things.”
Among his charges included 2002 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year Dan Klecko, as well as fellow future NFL players in Rian Wallace, Raheem Brock, Russell Newman and Calvin Wilkinson.
Monica and his wife, Linda, are the parents of Ray, Lindsay and Austin.
Raymond Monica, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Hometown: Garyville, Louisiana
Education: North Alabama, 1990
Coaching Timeline
2021 – Southeastern Louisiana – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2019-20 – Southeastern Louisiana – Defensive Line/Assistant Head Coach
2013-18 – Arkansas Tech – Head Coach
2006-12 – Kutztown (Pa.) University – Head Coach
1998-05 – Temple – Defensive Coordinator (Assistant Head Coach 1999-05)
1992-97 – North Alabama – Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
1989 – North Alabama – Student Assistant (Running Backs)
1988 – Northeast Mississippi JC – Student Assistant (Running Backs)
Playing Career
Northeast Mississippi JC, QB
