Bio

Randy Starks was named the 20th Eureka College football head coach on January 29, 2024. The 2025 season will be his second at the helm of the Red Devils.

Starks joined Eureka with a wealth of coaching experience after recent stops at Loughborough College, Bakersfield College, Fresno State, and LaGrange College. In his most recent role at Loughborough, Starks was a defensive line coach, and at Bakersfield College, where he also assisted in recruiting and building a team’s playbook. 

Starks experience in coaching football was preceded by an outstanding playing career.

Starks spent 12 seasons in the NFL and had the opportunity to play for three different organizations: the Tennessee Titans (2004-08), the Miami Dolphins (2008-15), and the Cleveland Browns (2015-16). As a rookie for the Titans, Starks became a consistent starter, playing defensive tackle and nose tackle. In 2008, he made the move to Miami, where he spent the bulk of his career and quickly established himself as a staple player for the franchise. He was the first Dolphin in history to be selected to the Pro Bowl for two different positions: going in 2011 as a defensive end and 2013 as a nose tackle. Starks finished his time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns (2015-16). In Cleveland, he was the leader of the Defensive Line Unit.

Prior to becoming a 3rd round (71st overall) pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Starks spent 3 years playing football at The University of Maryland. In his time as a Terrapin, Starks was a key part of Maryland’s defensive line, seeing action in every game of his collegiate career and starting every game of his sophomore and junior seasons. He was also an All-American.  As a sophomore, he was a second team All-ACC selection, recording 93 tackles, 6. 5 sacks, and 12.5 TFLs. And, as a junior, he was a first team All-ACC selection, posting 74 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 15.5 TFLs.

Following his impressive playing career, Starks quickly pursued his passion for coaching, which began with an internship as a part of the New York Jets organization where he served as an assistant defensive line coach in 2018.

Starks is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Sciences—Exercise and Sport Science from Liberty University. He holds a Masters in Sport Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science (School of Public Health Family Science) from the University of Maryland, where he played before declaring for the NFL draft.