Derrick Kent Ramsey (born December 23, 1956) was the Kentucky Secretary of Education and Workforce Development,[1] having been appointed by Governor Matt Bevin.[2] He was the Deputy Secretary of Commerce under former Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher from 2003 to 2007.[2] He is also a former professional American football player who played tight end for nine seasons for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions.
Ramsey grew up in Hastings, Florida and attended Hastings High School, where he won state championships in his first two years. He moved to live with an uncle in Camden, New Jersey and play for the Camden High School football team, which went 2-8 in his junior year and won the New Jersey state championship in his senior year.[3]
Ramsey was a quarterback and tight end at the University of Kentucky, where he was part of the team that won the 1976 SEC Championship and the 1976 Peach Bowl.[4] He was first team All SEC and third-team All-American as QB in 1977 when Kentucky finished with a 10-1 record and #6 ranking in the final AP poll. Ramsey also played two games on the basketball team as a walk-on in 1976. [5]
He served as the Athletic Director at Coppin State University from 2008 to 2015.
| As player | |
|---|---|
| 1978–83 | Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders |
| 1983–85 | New England Patriots |
| 1987 | Detroit Lions |