Rick Santos Appointed as Penn’s Head Football Coach

Rick Santos has been appointed as the George A. Munger Head Football Coach at the University of Pennsylvania. This decision comes after his successful tenure at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where he led the Wildcats to three NCAA FCS playoff appearances.

Press Conference Announcement

On December 16, 2025, Santos will be formally introduced to the Penn community during a press conference at 1 p.m. This event will be held in the Li Family Auditorium at Franklin Field and will be available for live streaming on the Penn Sports Network.

Achievements at UNH

Santos amassed a 37–24 record during his five seasons as head coach at UNH. He achieved a notable 28–12 mark in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and secured playoff berths in 2022, 2024, and 2025.

• Secured a share of the CAA title in his first season.
• Achieved a national ranking of No. 15.
• Led the Wildcats to a second-round playoff berth.

In 2025, the Wildcats won their last five regular-season games, including a key victory against No. 6 Monmouth. This win helped UNH earn an at-large playoff bid, marking the third season in four years with eight or more wins.

Santos’s Journey and Legacy

Before becoming head coach, Santos’s relationship with UNH spanned over multiple roles. He started as a wide receivers coach, then became the associate head coach, and even served as interim head coach in 2019. Santos also had a brief stint at Columbia as quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator.

During his playing career at UNH from 2004 to 2007, Santos was a standout quarterback. He received the prestigious Walter Payton Award in 2006 and was a three-time All-American. His remarkable stats include:

• 3,125 passing yards in 2006.
• 29 touchdowns in a season.
• Career totals of 12,189 passing yards and 1,024 completions.

Looking Ahead

Santos expressed his gratitude towards UNH while emphasizing his enthusiasm for taking on the role at Penn. He acknowledged the significance of coaching at a prestigious institution like Penn, aiming to foster excellence both academically and athletically.

He will be accompanied in Philadelphia by his wife Ulyana and their children, Rya and Andre. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, football enthusiasts eagerly await his impact on the Penn football program.