Ron Aiken life and biography

Veteran college assistant coach Ron Aiken enters his fourth season with the Cardinals after being hired to coach the defensive line on 2/14/07. Aiken joined the Cardinals after spending eight seasons at the University of Iowa coaching the same position.

During his tenure with the Cardinals, Aiken has helped tutor defensive tackle Darnell Dockett to two Pro Bowl selections (2007, 2009) including earning his first starting assignment this past year. Dockett led all NFL defensive tackles with seven sacks in 2009 after previously leading the Cardinals and all NFL interior defensive linemen with nine sacks in 2007 when he tied the franchise record for sacks in a season by a defensive tackle (Mark Smith). Aiken has also helped in the development of second-year defensive end Calais Campbell who tied Dockett for the team lead with seven sacks in 2009.

Named the 2002 American Football Coaches Association Division I Assistant Coach of the Year with the Hawkeyes, Aiken joined Iowa’s staff in 1999 and helped lead the Hawkeyes to six straight bowl appearances (2001-06). His defensive line finished the 2005 season ranking 29th nationally in rush defense (126 yards per game) and 22nd in scoring defense (20 points per game), finishing third in the Big Ten in both categories and fourth in total defense.

Future pros he coached while at Iowa include defensive end and two-time Pro Bowl selection (20-06-07) Aaron Kampman (Jacksonville), defensive end Derreck Robinson (Cleveland), nose tackle Colin Cole (Seattle), defensive end Matt Roth (Cleveland), and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (Atlanta).

Iowa led the Big Ten in rushing defense in 2004 and the Hawkeyes were fifth nationally in rushing defense, sixth in turnover margin and 11th in total defense.

Iowa's rushing defense ranked second in the Big Ten for three straight years before leading the league in 2004. The Hawkeyes were fifth in the nation against the run (81.9) in 2002, seventh in 2003 (92.7) and fifth again in 2004 (92.5).

Prior to joining the Hawkeyes, Aiken spent the 1998 season coaching linebackers at San Diego State where all three of his linebackers earned all-conference honors. He was at the University of Texas coaching defensive tackles in 1997, worked with the defensive line at Vanderbilt from 1995-96 and was at New Mexico coaching linebackers and defensive ends from 1991-94.

Aiken was the head coach at Langston (OK) from 1986-90 where his teams led the nation (NAIA Div. I) in total defense in two of his four seasons. He was special teams coordinator at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1985, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Tarkio College from 1982-84 and he coached the offensive line and special teams at Bethany College from 1980-81. Aiken began his coaching career as the offensive line coach at Boiling Springs (SC) High School and in 1979 became head coach at Greensville County (VA) High School.

A graduate of North Carolina A&T, Aiken earned all-conference honors while playing guard and center for the Aggies (1973-76) and was a team captain in 1976.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from North Carolina A&T in 1977 and a masters degree in secondary education from The Citadel in 1982. He and his wife, Sheryl, have three sons: Matthew, Stephen and Joshua.

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