Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football
Nunez, Jay
vs
Louisiana
Sep 20 (Sat)
3:30 p.m.
Jay Nunez
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight ends
- Email:
- rnunez3@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Entering his fifth year at EMU is Jay Nunez, who came to Ypsilanti after spending a year at Southern Illinois University. At EMU, he is the special teams coordinator and works with the defensive tackles , while adding the title of assistant head coach prior to the 2021 season.
Nunez has spent the last four years helping Eastern reach new levels as the special teams coordinator.
The EMU special team’s units were once again some of the very best in the Mid-American Conference in 2020. In coverage, EMU finished first in the league with one blocked kick and was also the best in the conference at protecting its kickers. No opponents blocked an EMU kick this season. Eastern’s kickoff return defense held opponents to just 18.04 yards per return, which were the second-fewest of any team in the conference, while its punt return defense allowed just 0.75 yards per return, good for fifth-best in the MAC and 10th nationally.
Senior punter Jake Julien was strong in his 2020 efforts, as he booted 16 kicks for 708 yards, a 44.25 yards per punt average, the best of his career. EMU’s 43.8 yards per punt average finished as the best in the MAC. In the kicking game, junior Chad Ryland recorded his best season as an Eagle as he finished with an 84.7 percent clip in field goals (11-of-13). He finished the season 18-for-19 on extra-point attempts and became Eastern Michigan’s third all-time leader in made extra points (94) after he went 5-for-5 on PATs in EMU’s victory over Northern Illinois, 41-33, Dec. 12.
Nunez also added responsibilities with the defensive line in 2020, where he helped groom defensive tackles Turan Rush and Jose Ramirez into All-MAC players.
Rush, a Second Team All-MAC selection, established himself as one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the MAC in 2020. The West Virginia native finished sixth in the MAC and 32nd in the FBS in sacks at 0.75 per game.
Ramirez, named to the MAC’s third team, appeared in each of EMU’s six games in 2020, and notched his first-career tackle against Kent State, Nov. 4. He recorded at least two tackles in every appearance in 2020. Ramirez’s breakout game came at Western Michigan, Dec. 5, where he set personal bests in tackles (7), tackles-for-loss (2.0), sacks (2.0), and forced fumbles (1.0).
The EMU defense, aided by Nunez, was successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team’s six games in 2020. Eastern recovered nine fumbles, which ranked first in the MAC and 11th nationally.
In 2019, punter Jake Julien set the program’s single-season punting mark at 43.8 yards per boot. Overall, Julien led the MAC and ranked 30th nationally in punting. Furthermore, placekicker Chad Ryland connected on 14 field goals, including the game-winner to upend Big Ten Conference foe Illinois.
In 2018, EMU special teams ranked second nationally in punts down inside the five, fourth in punts down inside the 10, and 23rd in punts downed inside the 20. Furthermore, the Eagles were fifth in the FBS in punts past the 50.
He also helped mentor punter Jake Julien to Second Team All-MAC honors in 2018, while becoming the first EMU player to earn MAC Player of the Week accolades five times in the same season. Julien is the only EMU player in records that date back to 1959 to have recorded two punts of 70-or-more yards in their career. Overall, Julien led the MAC and ranks 29th nationally in punting with an average of 43.4. He had 13 punts of 50-or-more yards and 24 that were downed inside the 20-yard line. Furthermore, 16 of those 24 were actually been whistled dead inside the 10-yard line with three having traveled more than 68 yards.
Under Nunez’s watch, EMU’s talent level has continued to rise with the program signing more three-star prospects (18, per the 247Sports Composite) in the last two years than in the previous four (17).
Nunez served as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach for the SIU football program in 2016. Nunez arrived in Carbondale, Ill. after five seasons at the University of Minnesota under Head Coach Jerry Kill.
In Nunez’s only season with the Salukis, he guided SIU to some of the most dynamic special teams play in the nation. Southern led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in kick return average and ranked eighth nationally. “True” freshman D.J. Davis was named All-MVFC as a returner after averaging an MVFC-best 26.0 yards per kick return. He took the opening kick versus Murray State 98 yards for a touchdown, the second-longest kick return for a touchdown in school history.
In addition to kick returns, SIU blocked two kicks while allowing zero. Additionally, kicker Austin Johnson became the first kicker in SIU history to hit three career field goals of 50 yards or longer. Nunez’s special teams units pulled off a fake PAT (vs. South Dakota State), a fake punt (vs. Murray State), and a fake field goal (vs. No. 23 Western Illinois) all successfully.
Under Nunez’s guidance, freshman tight end Jacob Varble started 10 games and caught 16 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown.
From 2011-15, Nunez served as the quality control assistant for special teams at Minnesota and helped manage the day-to-day operations of the unit. He also aided the Gophers with opponent breakdowns and other tasks. Nunez got his coaching start at Pittsburg State, where he worked with the offensive and defensive lines for two seasons. He also developed game and weight room plans in addition to help with video sessions and recruiting.
Nunez was a four-year letter winner on the Pittsburg State University football team. He was a team captain as a senior and was a semi-finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2009, which is awarded by the National Football Foundation and is given to the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance.
A native of Alva, Okla., Nunez received his bachelor’s degree in history/government in 2009 and his master’s degree in educational leadership in 2013 from Pittsburg State.
Nunez and his wife, Ashley, have two sons, Aaron and Emmit.
Nunez has spent the last four years helping Eastern reach new levels as the special teams coordinator.
The EMU special team’s units were once again some of the very best in the Mid-American Conference in 2020. In coverage, EMU finished first in the league with one blocked kick and was also the best in the conference at protecting its kickers. No opponents blocked an EMU kick this season. Eastern’s kickoff return defense held opponents to just 18.04 yards per return, which were the second-fewest of any team in the conference, while its punt return defense allowed just 0.75 yards per return, good for fifth-best in the MAC and 10th nationally.
Senior punter Jake Julien was strong in his 2020 efforts, as he booted 16 kicks for 708 yards, a 44.25 yards per punt average, the best of his career. EMU’s 43.8 yards per punt average finished as the best in the MAC. In the kicking game, junior Chad Ryland recorded his best season as an Eagle as he finished with an 84.7 percent clip in field goals (11-of-13). He finished the season 18-for-19 on extra-point attempts and became Eastern Michigan’s third all-time leader in made extra points (94) after he went 5-for-5 on PATs in EMU’s victory over Northern Illinois, 41-33, Dec. 12.
Nunez also added responsibilities with the defensive line in 2020, where he helped groom defensive tackles Turan Rush and Jose Ramirez into All-MAC players.
Rush, a Second Team All-MAC selection, established himself as one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the MAC in 2020. The West Virginia native finished sixth in the MAC and 32nd in the FBS in sacks at 0.75 per game.
Ramirez, named to the MAC’s third team, appeared in each of EMU’s six games in 2020, and notched his first-career tackle against Kent State, Nov. 4. He recorded at least two tackles in every appearance in 2020. Ramirez’s breakout game came at Western Michigan, Dec. 5, where he set personal bests in tackles (7), tackles-for-loss (2.0), sacks (2.0), and forced fumbles (1.0).
The EMU defense, aided by Nunez, was successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team’s six games in 2020. Eastern recovered nine fumbles, which ranked first in the MAC and 11th nationally.
In 2019, punter Jake Julien set the program’s single-season punting mark at 43.8 yards per boot. Overall, Julien led the MAC and ranked 30th nationally in punting. Furthermore, placekicker Chad Ryland connected on 14 field goals, including the game-winner to upend Big Ten Conference foe Illinois.
In 2018, EMU special teams ranked second nationally in punts down inside the five, fourth in punts down inside the 10, and 23rd in punts downed inside the 20. Furthermore, the Eagles were fifth in the FBS in punts past the 50.
He also helped mentor punter Jake Julien to Second Team All-MAC honors in 2018, while becoming the first EMU player to earn MAC Player of the Week accolades five times in the same season. Julien is the only EMU player in records that date back to 1959 to have recorded two punts of 70-or-more yards in their career. Overall, Julien led the MAC and ranks 29th nationally in punting with an average of 43.4. He had 13 punts of 50-or-more yards and 24 that were downed inside the 20-yard line. Furthermore, 16 of those 24 were actually been whistled dead inside the 10-yard line with three having traveled more than 68 yards.
Under Nunez’s watch, EMU’s talent level has continued to rise with the program signing more three-star prospects (18, per the 247Sports Composite) in the last two years than in the previous four (17).
Nunez served as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach for the SIU football program in 2016. Nunez arrived in Carbondale, Ill. after five seasons at the University of Minnesota under Head Coach Jerry Kill.
In Nunez’s only season with the Salukis, he guided SIU to some of the most dynamic special teams play in the nation. Southern led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in kick return average and ranked eighth nationally. “True” freshman D.J. Davis was named All-MVFC as a returner after averaging an MVFC-best 26.0 yards per kick return. He took the opening kick versus Murray State 98 yards for a touchdown, the second-longest kick return for a touchdown in school history.
In addition to kick returns, SIU blocked two kicks while allowing zero. Additionally, kicker Austin Johnson became the first kicker in SIU history to hit three career field goals of 50 yards or longer. Nunez’s special teams units pulled off a fake PAT (vs. South Dakota State), a fake punt (vs. Murray State), and a fake field goal (vs. No. 23 Western Illinois) all successfully.
Under Nunez’s guidance, freshman tight end Jacob Varble started 10 games and caught 16 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown.
From 2011-15, Nunez served as the quality control assistant for special teams at Minnesota and helped manage the day-to-day operations of the unit. He also aided the Gophers with opponent breakdowns and other tasks. Nunez got his coaching start at Pittsburg State, where he worked with the offensive and defensive lines for two seasons. He also developed game and weight room plans in addition to help with video sessions and recruiting.
Nunez was a four-year letter winner on the Pittsburg State University football team. He was a team captain as a senior and was a semi-finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2009, which is awarded by the National Football Foundation and is given to the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance.
A native of Alva, Okla., Nunez received his bachelor’s degree in history/government in 2009 and his master’s degree in educational leadership in 2013 from Pittsburg State.
Nunez and his wife, Ashley, have two sons, Aaron and Emmit.
| The Jay Nunez File | ||
| Name: | Jay Nunez | |
| High School: | Alva H.S. - Alva, Okla. | |
| College: | Pittsburg State University - Bachelor’s degree in history/government - 2009 | |
| Pittsburg State University - Master’s degree in educational leadership- 2013 | ||
| Family: | Wife - Ashley; Son - Aaron and Emmit | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2021-Pres. | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams/Defensive Tackles |
| 2020 | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Special Teams/Defensive Tackles |
| 2018-19 | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Special Teams/Co-Recruiting Coord. |
| 2017 | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coord./TE |
| 2016 | Southern Illinois University | Assistant Coach/Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2011-15 | University of Minnesota | Quality Control Assistant - Special Teams |
| 2005-09 | Pittsburg State University | Football student-athlete |
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