Ronnie Regula is in his third season with the Bengals in 2026, and his first in the role of assistant linebackers coach. He joined the coaching staff in 2024 as a defensive assistant with a focus on LBs.
In 2025, Regula worked with a pair of rookie LBs in second-round draft pick Demetrius Knight Jr. and fourth-rounder Barrett Carter. The duo combined for 208 tackles, with Knight's total of 106 ranking second on the team and second among all NFL rookies. Carter took over a starting LB role midway through the season, and alongside Knight he helped Cincinnati's defense improve in nearly every statistical metric over the second half of the year (final eight games) compared to the first half (first nine games). Following the team's bye in Week 10, the Bengals tied for third in the NFL in total sacks (20) and tied for third in takeaways (11).
In 2024, Regula's first season in Cincinnati, he helped the starting LB duo of Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson each hit the 100-tackle mark, as Pratt led the team with a career-high 143 stops (tied for ninth in NFL), while Wilson totaled 104 in just 11 games played. After Wilson was placed on the Reserve/Injured list in December, Regula worked with fifth-year pro Akeem Davis-Gaither as he stepped into the starting role for the final six contests. Davis-Gaither led the NFL with 58 tackles from Weeks 13-18 of the regular season.
Regula came to Cincinnati from the University of Notre Dame, where he served as senior defensive analyst from 2022-23. Working closely with the secondary in 2023, he helped guide a Fighting Irish defense that ranked first nationally in pass efficiency defense (97.09), second in red zone defense (.706), third in passing defense (157.3 yards allowed per game), fifth in total defense (276.3), and seventh in scoring defense (15.9 points). S Xavier Watts tied for the national lead in INTs (seven) and won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in college football.
Regula coached the 2022 season with a focus on Notre Dame's linebackers, contributing to a room that saw LBs Marist Liufau, JD Bertrand, and Jack Kiser finish as the top three tacklers on the team. The Irish's 38 sacks as a team tied for 12th in the FBS.
Prior to Notre Dame, Regula held the role of offensive quality control coach at two schools — his alma mater, the University of Miami (Fla.), in 2021, and the University of Tennessee in '20. He worked with the Hurricanes' running backs and the Volunteers' tight ends. With Regula on staff in 2021, Miami ranked 19th nationally in total yards (448.8 per game) and 23rd in scoring (34.1 points per game).
Regula spent the previous three seasons (2017-19) on staff at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, including two as a graduate assistant ('17-18) and one as tight ends coach ('19). In 2019, he guided sophomore TE Noah Bean to career highs in receptions (22) and receiving yards (336). He spent the spring of 2019 as the tight ends/fullbacks coach at Lafayette College (FCS), before returning to UNLV. He had a specific focus on the defensive side of the ball in 2018.
Regula began his full-time coaching career at Florida International University, where he spent the 2015-16 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant. He played collegiately at Miami from 2012-14, following one season in '10 at the College of Mount St. Joseph (now Mount St. Joseph University) in Delhi Township, Ohio (in the Greater Cincinnati area). He was a two-year letter winner as a fullback and long-snapper at Miami, and in 2014 was the recipient of the "305 Walk-On Award," and placed on scholarship in advance of his senior season. After graduating, Regula served as a coaching assistant at Miami.
Regula was born Nov. 29, 1991 in Miami, Fla. He earned his bachelor's degree in sports administration from Miami in 2015, and his master's degree in recreation and sports management from Florida International in '16. He and his wife, Sami, live in Cincinnati. Last name is pronounced "reh-GHOUL-uh."
Playing and coaching history: 2010—Played TE at College of Mount St. Joseph. 2012-14—Played FB at Miami (Fla.). 2015-16—Graduate assistant coach, Florida International. 2017-19—Graduate assistant/assistant coach (AC), Nevada-Las Vegas. 2020—AC, Tennessee. 2021—AC, Miami (Fla.). 2022-23—AC, Notre Dame. 2024-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
