Former NFL player Willie Ponder joined the Colorado Mesa University coaching staff in 2016 working with the wide receivers.
He worked with the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
Ponder came to CMU after working as an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State where he worked with the tight ends and wide receivers. During his time with the Redhawks he worked with Paul McRoberts who was an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams.
He was the offensive coordinator at Tulsa Central High School for three seasons where he coached three all-district players.
Ponder was drafted in the sixth round, 199th overall, in the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played five seasons in the NFL with the Giants, Seahawks and Rams. He led the NFL in kickoff return average (26.9 yds) in 2004, the first Giant to do so since 1964. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns for the Giants.
He was a player and coach for the Oklahoma Thunder of the Gridiron Developmental Football League from 2008 to 2013. He led the Thunder to three World Bowl Championships, one conference championship and one national championship.
Ponder started his collegiate career at Tulsa where he had eight catches for 72 yards as a true fresman. After a redshirt season at Coffeyville Community College, he transfered to Southeast Missouri State for his final two seasons.
He earned All-Ohio Valley Conference and All-American honorable mention honors as a junior with 70 receptions for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the second receiver in school history to have over 1,000 receiving yards in a season and led the team with 66 points.
He repeated as an All-Ohio Valley Conference selection and earned All-American honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Sports Network. He holds the career records at Southeast for receiving yards (2,543), receiving touchdowns (26) and receptions per game (6.83). Ponder holds the season records for receptions (87), receiving yards (1,453), receiving touchdowns (15) and receptions per game (7.25).
Ponder earned his bachelors degree in general studies from Southeast Missouri State. He has four children, Kaia, McKenzie, Willie III and Willow.
