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Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Wide Receivers
- Email:
- eric_bunker@brown.edu
- Joined Brown:
- April 2019-January 2025
- Alma Mater:
- Amherst College '12
Eric Bunker spent six years (five seasons) with Brown University from 2019-2024. He spent the last four seasons coaching the wide receivers after previously working with the running backs, and was named the team's recruiting coordinator ahead of the 2024 season. Under his guidance, the Bears led the league in receptions for four consecutive seasons and topped the league in receiving yards three times.
In 2024, Bears' receivers totaled 2,907 receiving yards to lead the league, with Mark Mahoney ranking sixth in the league with 62.8 yards per game.
In 2023, Bunker’s receivers had a standout season, highlighted by Wes Rockett finishing second for the Bushnell Cup Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year award. Rockett, a First Team All-Ivy and All-New England honoree led the league in receptions, yards, punt return average, and all-purpose yards, ending his career as one of Brown’s all-time great WRs.
The 2023 season saw three Bears’ receivers in the top twelve for league yards and receptions, with four in the top twelve for touchdown receptions, led by Rockett, Graham Walker, Mark Mahoney, and Solomon Miller.
In 2022, the Bears again led the league in receptions, with Rockett earning Second Team All-Ivy honors. In 2021, Bunker’s corps achieved a league-leading 3,119 receiving yards, with Rockett, Hayes Sutton, and Walker dominating major statistical categories. Most significantly they all finished in the top three in the league in touchdown receptions.
Bunker’s first season in 2019 saw the Bears’ offense score 303 points, more than the previous two years combined. As the running backs coach, the rushing attack more than doubled the it’s production from the previous year from 65.1 to 153.4 yards per game.
Before Brown, Bunker coached running backs at Bryant University, improving their run game from 77 yards per game in 2016 to 157 in 2018. He also served as the offensive quality control and assistant quarterbacks coach at Princeton, helping the team to a 2016 Ivy League Championship and mentoring future NFL quarterbacks John Lovett and Chad Kanoff. They won the Bushnell Cup and Second Team All-Ivy, respectively.
Bunker previously interned with the New England Patriots and served as running backs coach and offensive coordinator at Masconomet Regional High School. He also worked as a strength coach at Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning.
A 2012 graduate of Amherst College, Bunker earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and graduated cum laude. He captained the 2011 football team to an undefeated season and a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship, earning the 2011 NESCAC Player of the Year honors.
COACHING TIMELINE
| Season | School/Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| - | New England Patriots | Football Operations Intern |
| 2016 | Princeton | Offensive Quality Control/Assistant Quarterbacks Coach |
| 2017-2018 | Bryant | Running Backs Coach |
| 2019 | Brown | Assistant Coach, Running Backs |
| 2020-2023 | Brown | Assistant Coach, Wide Receivers |
| 2024 | Brown | Assistant Coach, Wide Receivers and Recruiting Coordinator |
