Eddie Allen begins his sixth season in 2013 as the special teamscoordinator and running backs coach at the University of RhodeIsland.
In 2013, Allen once again had one of the top special teams units inCAA Football. Under his watch, kick returner Mackenzie Elliottearned First-Team All-CAA Football honors after leading theleague with 878 kick return yards, third most among all FCSplayers. The 878 yards were the second highest single-seasontotal in Rhody history, just behind the 907 yards by BrandonJohnson-Farrell in 2008. Elliott averaged 26.6 yards per return,second in CAA Football behind only William & Mary's TreMcBride, who had 11 fewer returns.
Punt returner Robbie Jackson earned Second-Team All-CAA Footballhonors after finishing the year ranked second in theconference with 142 total return yards and an average of 10.9 yardsper return.
Allen had the Rams averaging 20.9 yards per kick return in 2012,while allowing the second fewest return yards in the league.Seniors Billy Morgan and Brandon Johnson-Farrell ranked third andfifth, respectively, in kick return average in the conference.Johnson-Farrell led the league with 777 kick return yards andfinished his career as only the second player in school historywith 5,000 career all-purpose yards.
In 2011, Rhode Island averaged 21.5 yards per kick return whileallowing an average of just 18.9 yards per return. Junior BrandonJohnson-Farrell was fourth in the league with an average of 24.2yards per kick return.
In 2010, the URI special teams unit was instrumental in the Rams'five-win season. Under the direction of Allen, URI ranked in theCAA's top five in four special teams categories. The Rams also heldthe league's top kickoff return average (23.8). It was Allen'sspecial teams unit that played a major role in the Rams' 17-14victory over Villanova as it blocked a punt and returned it for thegame-winning score over the 2009 defending national champions. Atthe end of the year, freshman Travis Hurd was selected All-CAAFootball First Team as a kicker returner after he led the leaguewith a 26.2 return average.
In 2009, Allen coached punter Tim Edger, who was named All-CAASecond Team after he averaged 41.5 yard per punt, which rankedfirst in the CAA. In 2008, Rhody special teams' blocked nine kicksand ranked fourth in CAA Football in punt return average (10.1 perreturn).
Prior to arriving in Kingston, Allen spent three seasons as amember of Greg Schiano's coaching staff at Rutgers. He joined theScarlet Knights' football program in 2005 as a member of playerdevelopment and worked as a graduate assistant in 2007.
Allen began his collegiate coaching career as the offensivegraduate assistant and video coordinator at Hofstra University in2003. The following season, Allen moved on to Fort Scott CommunityCollege in Fort Scott, Kan., where he served as wide receiverscoach.
A native of Somerville, N.J., Allen graduated with a Bachelor'sDegree from the University of New Haven in 2003. He was a four-yearletterwinner at quarterback for the Chargers. Allen and his wifeKristin reside in North Kingstown, R.I.
Updated June 14, 2013
