Eastern Michigan Athletics
Ben Needham Named EMU Football Assistant Coach
2/8/2018 1:41:00 PM | Football
The West Lafayette, Ind. native will serve as the defensive line coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Ben Needham, the defensive coordinator for Kent State University for the past two seasons, has been named an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, Feb. 8. A veteran coach with more than 10 years of experience, Needham will serve as EMU's defensive line coach.
"Coach Needham is the right man for the job," Creighton said. "We have worked together in the past , he knows our program and fits perfectly with our philosophy and how we do things. He has great experience coaching in the Mid-American Conference and has recruited areas that are important to us."
Most recently, Needham served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Kent State for the 2017 season. In the four seasons prior, Needham was also KSU's linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator, and punting coach. Prior to joining the Golden Flashes, Needham made stops at the University of Arkansas (2012), The Ohio State University (2010-12), Drake University (2008-10), and Wabash College (2007).
In total, he has coached four All-MAC selections, six Academic All-MAC honorees, and an Academic All-America First Team award winner.
Last year, Needham's defense ranked 15th nationally in third down conversion defense at just 31.5 percent. The Golden Flashes were also third in the Mid-American Conference in tackles-for-loss at 6.5 per game, while allowing the third fewest passing yards in the league at just 195.1 a contest.
In January of 2016, Needham was promoted to defensive coordinator after spending three seasons as KSU's recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach. The Golden Flashes saw an immediate impact on defense, as the squad finished inside the top-25 in five categories including turnover margin (eighth - +0.92), fumbles recovered (15th - 12), defensive touchdowns (19th - 3), passing efficiency defense (20th - 116.18), and passing yards allowed (22nd - 196.8). Furthermore, Kent State ranked fourth in the MAC in total defense and fifth in scoring defense.
Individually, four players on KSU's defense were named to the All-MAC in 2016, including Terence Waugh and Najee Murray on the first team. Safety Nate Holley led the nation in solo tackles per game and ranked second in total tackles. Linebacker Nick Cuthbert earned Academic All-America First Team accolades after posting a MAC best 10.4 stops in league-only contests
In 2015, linebacker Matt Dellinger ranked 16th in the conference in tackles and was named to the Academic All-MAC Team.
As recruiting coordinator, Needham has spearheaded a recruiting effort that gave the Golden Flashes unprecedented depth at a number of positions. In 2015, Kent State's recruiting class included players from 11 states. KSU's 2014 recruiting class included 11 all-state selections and nine players who competed in a state championship game.
For the three seasons prior to joining the Golden Flashes' coaching staff, Needham made stops at Arkansas and Ohio State. During his time with the Razorbacks, he worked specifically with the linebackers. At OSU, Needham coached John Simon to First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-American honors. Additionally, he was a part of the staff that finished top-five in the football bowl subdivision in total, scoring, rushing, and passing defense en route to a 12-1 record and Big Ten Championship.
Needham went to Ohio State following two seasons as the defensive line coach at Drake, under current EMU defensive coordinator Neal Neathery on Creighton's staff. From 2008-2009, he coached two all-conference performers as the Bulldogs ranked among the FCS top-15 in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense both seasons.
Needham began his coaching career at Wabash College as the defensive line coach in 2007.
A 2007 graduate of Ohio State, Needham served as an undergraduate intern from 2005-06 with the Buckeyes. He played two seasons on the offensive line at DePauw University before earning his degree at Ohio State
"Coach Needham is the right man for the job," Creighton said. "We have worked together in the past , he knows our program and fits perfectly with our philosophy and how we do things. He has great experience coaching in the Mid-American Conference and has recruited areas that are important to us."
Most recently, Needham served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Kent State for the 2017 season. In the four seasons prior, Needham was also KSU's linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator, and punting coach. Prior to joining the Golden Flashes, Needham made stops at the University of Arkansas (2012), The Ohio State University (2010-12), Drake University (2008-10), and Wabash College (2007).
In total, he has coached four All-MAC selections, six Academic All-MAC honorees, and an Academic All-America First Team award winner.
Last year, Needham's defense ranked 15th nationally in third down conversion defense at just 31.5 percent. The Golden Flashes were also third in the Mid-American Conference in tackles-for-loss at 6.5 per game, while allowing the third fewest passing yards in the league at just 195.1 a contest.
In January of 2016, Needham was promoted to defensive coordinator after spending three seasons as KSU's recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach. The Golden Flashes saw an immediate impact on defense, as the squad finished inside the top-25 in five categories including turnover margin (eighth - +0.92), fumbles recovered (15th - 12), defensive touchdowns (19th - 3), passing efficiency defense (20th - 116.18), and passing yards allowed (22nd - 196.8). Furthermore, Kent State ranked fourth in the MAC in total defense and fifth in scoring defense.
Individually, four players on KSU's defense were named to the All-MAC in 2016, including Terence Waugh and Najee Murray on the first team. Safety Nate Holley led the nation in solo tackles per game and ranked second in total tackles. Linebacker Nick Cuthbert earned Academic All-America First Team accolades after posting a MAC best 10.4 stops in league-only contests
In 2015, linebacker Matt Dellinger ranked 16th in the conference in tackles and was named to the Academic All-MAC Team.
As recruiting coordinator, Needham has spearheaded a recruiting effort that gave the Golden Flashes unprecedented depth at a number of positions. In 2015, Kent State's recruiting class included players from 11 states. KSU's 2014 recruiting class included 11 all-state selections and nine players who competed in a state championship game.
For the three seasons prior to joining the Golden Flashes' coaching staff, Needham made stops at Arkansas and Ohio State. During his time with the Razorbacks, he worked specifically with the linebackers. At OSU, Needham coached John Simon to First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-American honors. Additionally, he was a part of the staff that finished top-five in the football bowl subdivision in total, scoring, rushing, and passing defense en route to a 12-1 record and Big Ten Championship.
Needham went to Ohio State following two seasons as the defensive line coach at Drake, under current EMU defensive coordinator Neal Neathery on Creighton's staff. From 2008-2009, he coached two all-conference performers as the Bulldogs ranked among the FCS top-15 in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense both seasons.
Needham began his coaching career at Wabash College as the defensive line coach in 2007.
A 2007 graduate of Ohio State, Needham served as an undergraduate intern from 2005-06 with the Buckeyes. He played two seasons on the offensive line at DePauw University before earning his degree at Ohio State
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