Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Entering his seventh year at EMU is Ben Needham, who came to Ypsilanti after spending five years at Kent State University. A veteran coach with more than 14 years of experience, Needham served as EMU’s defensive line coach as well as the Defensive Run Game Coordinator in the 2022 season, and made the change to defensive coordinator and linebacker’s coach beginning in the 2023 campaign.

Needham’s defense in 2023 proved fierce as two Eastern linebackers earned all-conference honors. Joe Sparacio was named All-MAC Second Team. A tackling machine, Sparacio ranked second in the MAC and seventh in the FBS with an average of 11.2 tackles per game. Sparacio finished the regular season with 131 tackles (57 solo, 74 assist) to go along with a team-best 6.5 tackles for a loss of 35 yards. The total ranks 16th-most in EMU single-season history. He also notched 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles. The three strips ranked fourth in the conference and 18th nationally.

The 22 tackles recorded by Sparacio against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, ranked as the second-most in an FBS game in 2023. That contest also saw him record 17 assisted tackles, the sixth most in a game in the 2023 campaign.  Overall, he posted seven games with double digit tackles. He also collected two MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Joining Sparacio on the all-conference teams was Chase Kline, who garnered third team honors. Kline led the Eagles with 143 tackles and 10 quarterback hurries. The Chardon, Ohio, native led the MAC while ranking second in the FBS with an average of 12.7 stops per contest. Kline's tackles in 2023 were tied for 10th-best in a single season at EMU. He posted nine contests with double-figure tackles, including a pair of 20+ games. Against Akron, Nov. 14, Kline finished with 23 stops, the most by any FBS student-athlete and the best outing by a MAC player since 2018. He also outpaced his 21-tackle performance two weeks earlier against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, when he posted 21.

For the first time since the 2019 campaign, EMU boasts a pair of tacklers that have exceeded the century mark. In the modern statistical era (since 1999), the feat has been accomplished just 12 times. Collectively, the duo accounted for 28.7 percent of the team's regular season tackles in 2023 (274-of-955). Furthermore, the duo of Kline and Sparacio made EMU the only school with two players in the top 5 and one of two in the top 15 with Old Dominion in 2023.

The Eagles also ranked highly in several defensive categories in 2023, most notably in fumbles recovered and red zone defense. The Eagles had a nose for the football as they recovered 11 fumbles in 2023, the most in the MAC and seventh-most in the nation. Defending inside their own red zone was also a strong suit, as EMU allowed opponent scores on just 78-percent of their red zone appearances, a figure that slotted it third in the conference and 27th in the country.

In 2022, Eastern’s rush defense was spearheaded by now Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Jose Ramirez. Ramirez had quite the decorated year, earning First Team All-MAC along with being named the MAC Defensive MVP. The Lake Alfred, Fla., native was also tabbed the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week twice in the 2022 season (Nov. 21, 28). Furthermore, Ramirez was named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, named the Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 10, and the “Breakout Defensive Player’ for the East-West Shrine Bowl (Oct. 10, Nov. 28) all en route to being selected by the Bucs with the 196th overall pick in the draft.

Along with Ramirez, Carter Evans was also recognized at the end of the season, as he was named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree.

As a rush defense, EMU finished seventh in the conference, giving up 156.1 rush-yards-per-game, and allowing 23 touchdowns on the ground.

In 2021, Needham helped defensive end Jose Ramirez become one of the most dominant pass rushers in the conference en route to All-MAC accolades. Ramirez was one of the biggest challenges for offensive linemen in the MAC in 2021. He ranked 10th in the conference with 6.5 sacks, a career-best mark for the Lake Alfred, Fla. native. Ramirez was a All-MAC third team selection in 2021 under Needham.

EMU forced 18 turnovers in 2021, and scored points off of 15 (11 touchdowns, 4 field goals). EMU scored 89 points off those turnovers, three times as a direct result of the play, and 12 times in its subsequent offensive possession. The Eagles’ defense recorded three games with four-or-more sacks in 2021, which brings the total number of such occurrences to 14 in the previous six seasons. EMU only recorded eight total games of the sort in the previous 10 seasons prior to the current stretch. Eastern Michigan has was one of the best teams in the nation when it came to recovering fumbles in 2021. The Eagles picked up nine loose balls this season, which ranked third in the MAC and 32nd nationally.

In 2020, Needham’s line anchored a defense that finished as the fifth-best unit in the Mid-American Conference at preventing third-down conversions (38.2% opponent success rate). The “Hard Hat D” finished 2020 with improvements in two categories over 2019’s squad, as opponents fared worse in passing yards per attempt (8.07/8.08) and third-down conversion rate (38.2% 29-of-76/44.8% 82-of-183). Additionally, the EMU defense was able to hold opponents off the scoreboard in 17 percent of its overall frames this year (4-of-24).

The EMU defense was successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team’s six games. Eastern recovered nine fumbles, which ranked first in the MAC and 11th nationally.

Individually, Needham mentored a pair of All-MAC honorees as both Turan Rush and Jose Ramirez were named to the short-list ofhe conference’s best players.

Rush, a Second Team All-MAC selection, established himself as one of the most dangerous pass rushers in the MAC in 2020. The West Virginia native finished sixth in the MAC and 32nd in the FBS in sacks at 0.75 per game and had a season-best two sacks and six tackles against MAC West Division champion Ball State, Nov. 11. The third-year Eagle added sacks against Kent State, Nov. 4, Toledo, Nov. 18, and Northern Illinois, Dec. 12.

Ramirez, named to the MAC’s third team, appeared in each of EMU’s six games in 2020, and notched his first-career tackle against  Kent State, Nov. 4. He recorded at least two tackles in every appearance in 2020. Ramirez’s breakout game came at Western Michigan, Dec. 5, where he set personal bests in tackles (7), tackles-for-loss (2.0), sacks (2.0), and forced fumbles (1.0).

In 2019, Eastern played in a postseason bowl for the third time in the last four seasons, and for the fifth time in school history. It was also the first time in program history that EMU played in the postseason in consecutive campaigns.

In 2018, EMU had a dynamite pass defense that ranked 10th overall in passing efficiency defense while holding opponents to a 55 percent completion rate. Eastern rushed the passer without blitzing, as ends Maxx Crosby and Jeremiah Harris combined for 12.5 sacks and 26.5 tackles-for-loss. Crobsy, who participated in the 2019 NFL Combine, ranked seventh in the FBS in TFLs and 42nd in sacks.

EMU was exceptionally stingy late in the year, as the defense only allowed three offensive touchdowns over the final 16 quarters of the season. Moreover, Eastern was ranked 10th nationally for the fewest second-half points allowed at just 8.7 per game.

Before arriving in Ypsilanti, Needham served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Kent State for the 2017 season. In the four seasons prior, Needham was also KSU’s linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator, and punting coach. Prior to joining the Golden Flashes, Needham made stops at the University of Arkansas (2012), The Ohio State University (2010-12), Drake University (2008-10), and Wabash College (2007).

In total, he has coached four All-MAC selections, six Academic All-MAC honorees, and an Academic All-America First Team award winner.

In 2017, Needham’s defense ranked 15th nationally in third down conversion defense at just 31.5 percent. The Golden Flashes were also third in the Mid-American Conference in tackles-for-loss at 6.5 per game, while allowing the third fewest passing yards in the league at just 195.1 a contest.

In January of 2016, Needham was promoted to defensive coordinator after spending three seasons as KSU’s recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach. The Golden Flashes saw an immediate impact on defense, as the squad finished inside the top-25 in five categories including turnover margin (eighth - +0.92), fumbles recovered (15th - 12), defensive touchdowns (19th - 3), passing efficiency defense (20th - 116.18), and passing yards allowed (22nd - 196.8). Furthermore, Kent State ranked fourth in the MAC in total defense and fifth in scoring defense.

Individually, four players on KSU’s defense were named to the All-MAC in 2016, including Terence Waugh and Najee Murray on the first team.  Safety Nate Holley led the nation in solo tackles per game and ranked second in total tackles. Linebacker Nick Cuthbert earned Academic All-America First Team accolades after posting a MAC best 10.4 stops in league-only contests.

In 2015, linebacker Matt Dellinger ranked 16th in the conference in tackles and was named to the Academic All-MAC Team.

As recruiting coordinator, Needham has spearheaded a recruiting effort that gave the Golden Flashes unprecedented depth at a number of positions.  In 2015, Kent State’s recruiting class included players from 11 states. KSU’s 2014 recruiting class included 11 all-state selections and nine players who competed in a state championship game.

For the three seasons prior to joining the Golden Flashes’ coaching staff, Needham made stops at Arkansas and Ohio State. During his time with the Razorbacks, he worked specifically with the linebackers. At OSU, Needham coached John Simon to First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-American honors. Additionally, he was a part of the staff that finished top-five in the football bowl subdivision in total, scoring, rushing, and passing defense en route to a 12-1 record and Big Ten Championship.

Needham went to Ohio State following two seasons as the defensive line coach at Drake, under current EMU defensive coordinator Neal Neathery on Creighton’s staff.  From 2008-2009, he coached two all-conference performers as the Bulldogs ranked among the FCS top-15 in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense both seasons.

Needham began his coaching career at Wabash College as the defensive line coach in 2007.

A 2007 graduate of Ohio State, Needham served as an undergraduate intern from 2005-06 with the Buckeyes.  He played two seasons on the offensive line at DePaul University before earning his degree at Ohio State.
 

The Ben Needham File
Name:	Ben Needham
High School:	West Lafayette H.S. - West Lafayette, Ind.
College:	Ohio State University - Bachelor’s degree in music education - 2007
	Drake University - Master’s degree in executive development – 2010
Coaching Experience
Year	School	Position
2023-Pres.	Eastern Michigan University	Assistant Coach LB/Defesnsive Coordiantor
2021-Pres.	Eastern Michigan University	Assistant Coach/DL/Defensive Run Game Coord.
2018-20	Eastern Michigan University	Assistant Coach/Defensive Line
2017	Kent State University	Assoc. Head Coach/Defensive/Special Teams Coord.
2016	Kent State University	Assistant Coach-Defensive Coordinator
2013-15	Kent State University	Assistant Coach-Linebackers/Punters/Rec. Coord.
2012	University of Arkansas	Graduate Assistant/Defense
2010-12	Ohio State University	Graduate Assistant/Defense
2008-10	Drake University	Assistant Coach-Defensive Line
2007	Wabash College	Assistant Coach-Defensive Line
2005-07	Ohio State University	Student Assistant
2003-04	DePauw University	Student-athlete