Captain
NFL Defensive Coach
Coach Ronald Meeks graduated and commissioned from Arkansas State University ROTC in 1978. After graduation, he served in the United States Army Reserve as an Infantry Officer, as platoon leader and executive officer before being promoted to the rank of Captain.
Ron Meeks played Defensive back for the ASU Indians from 1972- 1976. He began his professional football career as a Defensive Back for Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1977-1979. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL) from 1979, and the Toronto Argonauts from 1980-1981.
Coach Meeks started his coaching career with Arkansas State in 1984 which propelled him into a 20 year National Football League (NFL) coaching career beginning as a defensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys in 1991. He later served five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals being twice ranked in the top ten in pass defense and leading the league with 34 interceptions in 1996. He tutored defensive backs for the Atlanta Falcons until 2000, when he became a defensive coach for the Washington Redskins developing his defensive line to a standing of 2nd in the league. In 2002, Coach Meeks found himself working with the Indianapolis Colts, and in his six year tenure with the team, the Colts defensive line ranked in the top 6 teams against the pass for 5 separate years including ranking 2nd in their 2006 Super Bowl Championship season.
Along the way, Meeks racked up impressive defensive accolades with multiple Pro-bowl defensive players and many top 10 team defensive statistics. An outstanding teacher, Meeks molded many athletes into great defensive players with names like Ashley Ambrose, Ray Buchanan, Eugene Robinson, and Bob Sanders.
He served as a defensive coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, St. Louis Rams, and Indianapolis Colts, finally ending his prestigious career with the Carolina Panthers. Coach Meeks frequently affords students and athletes at various schools, including visits back here at Arkansas State, opportunities as a mentor and positive role-model for athletic and military service.
