The St. Louis Battlehawks named former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Ricky Proehl as the new head coach on Monday.
“Ricky Proehl is the perfect fit to step into the shoes of head coach of the St. Louis Battlehawks,” said UFL President & CEO Russ Brandon. “He has not only achieved greatness on the gridiron as a player and a coach, but he is deeply rooted in The Gateway City, where he was a Super Bowl champion with the St. Louis Rams and an assistant coach with the St. Louis Battlehawks.”
Ricky Proehl is 57 years old from The Bronx, New York. He last coached in 2023 for the St. Louis Battlehawks as the wide receivers coach under former coach Anthony Becht when the team finished 7-3 and missed the playoffs. Proehl did not coach in 2024 and 2025.
“I have so many meaningful and special memories of St. Louis—not only because of the success on the field, but because of the people who made it feel like home,” said Proehl. “I valued the opportunity to work alongside Anthony Becht, wish him the very best, and am truly honored to return now as the Battlehawks head coach. Since my playing career, my focus has been on developing players and helping them reach the next level. We will continue that commitment as we work to bring another football championship to the best sports town in the country.”
Ricky Proehl spent four seasons at Wake Forest (1986-89) with 188 catches for 2,949 yards, 25 touchdowns, 38 carries for 267 yards, four rushing touchdowns, 23 punt returns for 176 yards, and 18 kick returns for 344 yards in 44 games for the Demon Deacons. He was named First Team All-ACC in 1990.
The Phoenix Cardinals drafted Proehl in the third round (58th pick) of the 1990 NFL Draft. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and the Indianapolis Colts. 669 catches for 8,878 yards, 54 touchdowns, 19 carries for 115 yards, 13 punt returns for 87 yards, and 10 kick returns for 153 yards in 244 games. Proehl won two Super Bowls, one in St. Louis in 1999 and the one in Indianapolis in 2006. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 1990.
Following his retirement from football after the 2006 season, Proehl was named an offensive assistant for the Carolina Panthers on February 1, 2011. After two years, the Panthers promoted him to wide receivers coach from 2013 to 2016.
