Ed Pinkham begins his 12th season in charge of Colgate’s defensive unit. Following the conclusion of the 2005 campaign, Pinkham was promoted to associate head coach while continuing his duties as defensive coordinator.
The first 10 seasons saw Pinkham coach the secondary before moving to linebackers prior to the 2006 campaign.
During his tenure, Colgate has captured five Patriot League titles and earned five trips to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. His defensive unit led the Patriot League in total defense in 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2006, and three times has paced the league in rushing defense. In 2004, the Raiders were ninth in the nation in total defense and fifth in passing defense.
In 1999, he directed the Raiders to one of their greatest defensive efforts while setting the school record for fewest total yards and rushing yards allowed in a season.
His defensive unit has produced 37 all-Patriot League performers, three Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, two first-team All-Americas, and as secondary coach, 15 players were selected all-league.
In his first season coaching Colgate’s linebacker, Mike Gallihugh led the nation in tackling, and earned second-team All-America honors.
With over 29 years of coaching experience, Pinkham began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1975 where he coached the wide receivers before adding secondary duties in his second year with the Gators.
He left Allegheny for a 12-year stint at the University of New Hampshire, where he was secondary coach during his entire stay and defensive coordinator the last seven seasons.
In 1989, he joined the staff at the University of Minnesota as secondary coach. It was at Minnesota where he coached with Colgate head coach Dick Biddle.
In the four seasons prior to Colgate, Pinkham was defensive coordinator and associate head coach at the College of the Holy Cross. For the first two seasons he coached the outside linebackers, before moving over to the secondary.
Pinkham was a four-year starter at free safety while at Allegheny, where he earned all-President’s Athletic Conference honors all four years. In his senior year, he received second team Associated Press All-America honors, and served as captain of the Gators’ conference winning team.
Pinkham, 53 years old, was born September 6, 1953 in Plainfield, N.J. He graduated from Allegheny College in 1975 with a degree in economics.
He and his wife, Karen, make their home in Hamilton. They have three children: Matt (26), Kelly (24), and Jessie (16).
