Ricky Santos (born April 26, 1984) is an American former gridiron football quarterback who is currently the head coach for the New Hampshire Wildcats football team. He played college football at New Hampshire, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

Early years

Ricky Santos was born in Norwood, Massachusetts to parents, Debbie and Rick Santos. Santos attended Bellingham High School in Bellingham, Massachusetts, and was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. In football, he was a two-time Tri-Valley League MVP, was twice named the Division V Player of the Year, a two-time MetroWest Player of the Year, and, as a senior, won all-State honors. In November 2002, during the first annual Thanksgiving Day game against Norton, he threw for seven touchdown passes all to his cousin Stephen Wood, which is still one of the best high school performances in Bellingham history. He broke the state touchdown record and led his teams to two Massachusetts High School Super Bowl titles (2000 and 2001). He graduated from Bellingham High in 2003.

College career

Santos attended the University of New Hampshire and was a four-year starter at quarterback. Santos studied Kinesiology/Sports Management while at the university. During his college career, the Wildcats went a combined 37–14, winning one Atlantic 10 Football Conference Championship, two Northern Division Championships, and made the NCAA I-AA/FCS Playoffs all four seasons. A three-time All-America selection, Santos won the Walter Payton Award in 2006, as the top offensive player in FCS (formerly Division I-AA). Santos finished his college career third on the NCAA all-time career passing yardage list with 13,212 yards, and third on the NCAA all-time list for career touchdown passes with 123. After the 2007 season, his no. 2 uniform number was retired by New Hampshire. This jersey retirement marked the fourth Wildcat in history to see their football jersey number retired. In 2016, Santos was inducted to the university's athletic hall of fame.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft, multiple teams such as the Washington Commanders (formally Washington Redskins). Santos ultimately agreed to join the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in April. However, he was released the same month. In May 2008, Santos was signed by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He appeared in zero games for the Alouettes. On September 21, 2009, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers acquired Santos from the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for non-import defensive ends Riall Johnson and Shawn Mayne. He was released by the Blue Bombers on May 17, 2010, after appearing in seven games during his tenure. After an injury to Adrian McPherson, the Montreal Alouettes re-signed Santos on June 22, 2010, to serve as the third-string quarterback. Santos saw the most action in his CFL career, appearing in 29 games. He compiled 94 passing yards, and 58 rushing yards, throwing for three touchdowns during this time. On June 9, 2012, he was released by the Alouettes. On June 16, 2012, Santos was signed by the Toronto Argonauts. He was released four days later.

Coaching career

Santos was quarterbacks coach for three seasons (2016–2018) with the Columbia Lions. Santos joined the New Hampshire coaching staff in March 2019, as associate head coach and quarterbacks coach. When Wildcats head coach Sean McDonnell took a leave of absence for health reasons in late August 2019, Santos was named interim head coach for the team. The 2019 Wildcats finished with a record of 6–5. McDonnell returned to the team for the 2020 season, with Santos resuming his role as associate head coach and quarterbacks coach. McDonnell retired on December 1, 2021; the following week, Santos was formally named the next head football coach for the Wildcats. Santos and the Wildcats have compiled a 23-13 record over his first three years including a share of the Colonial Athletic Association regular season title in 2022, where he won the 2022 Coach of the Year award for the CAA. Santos has led the Wildcats to two FCS playoff appearances in 2022 and 2024. The Wildcats made it to the second round in 2022 where the team eventually lost to the Holy Cross Crusaders 35-19 and finished their 2024 season with a 41-10 loss to the UT Martin Skyhawks in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

Personal life

Ricky Santos is the husband of Ulyana Santos and father to a daughter and a son. Santos is a cousin of racecar driver Bobby Santos III.

Head coaching record