Zuril Hendrick

Stony Brook University Athletics

Stony Brook Seawolves

Title

Cornerbacks Coach
Email

zuril.hendrick@stonybrook.edu

On January 17, 2024, Stony Brook football and head coach Billy Cosh announced the hiring of Zuril Hendrick to the program.

In his first season, the Seawolves made a major leap, improving from a winless 0–10 campaign in 2023 to an impressive 8–4 finish in 2024, recording their first winning season since 2018 and earning their highest national ranking in six years. The defense showed significant improvement, reducing opponents’ scoring from 39.2 points per game to 24.0, while total yards allowed dropped from 470.7 to 373.5 per game. Touchdowns surrendered also decreased from 53 to just 32, and the Seawolves forced their most turnovers in a season since 2014, while allowing their fewest points per game since 2021.

He played a key role in the development of All-CAA Second Team selection Rudy Silvera, who led the team with 12 pass breakups and three interceptions, ranking second in the CAA and top 10 in the FCS in pass breakups. He also helped first-year Seawolf DJ Jones record an interception and seven pass breakups, while guiding fellow first-year player Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu to a breakout season with a career-best 74.0 tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup.

In 2025, Hendrick helped Stony Brook continue its upward trajectory, finishing 6–6 overall with a 5–1 mark at LaValle Stadium, securing the program’s second consecutive .500-or-better season for the first time since the 2017–18 campaign. He contributed to the development of All-CAA First Team selection Miles McGoy during a career year and also helped guide Jojo Garcia, who led the conference in takeaways. In addition, he assisted in the growth of first-year players Bryson Parker, Alhaji Kamara, and DaMario Crawford, who combined for 15 pass breakups, four interceptions, 114 total tackles, and 7.0 tackles for loss.

Hendrick, who took over as the cornerbacks coach in 2024, comes from Sacred Heart, where he spent the 2023 season as the cornerbacks coach. The Pioneers finished as the top pass defense in the NEC last season, allowing just 132.6 pass yards per game. SHU was also the second-best scoring defense in the league last year. Hendrick has also coached collegiately at Utica University (2019-20; 2022-23) and at Pittsford High School in New York State Section 5.

Hendrick was first hired by Utica in the Summer of 2019 as an assistant football coach responsible for running backs. He returned to the sidelines in 2022 for a second stint with the program, working primarily with the defensive backs.

He played for Division II Edinboro University [Pa.] where he is the school's all-time interception leader with 21 picks, and totaled 195 career tackles. Hendrick earned All-American, All-Region and All-Conference honors as a collegiate student-athlete. Professionally, he received two NFL rookie minicamp invitations in 2019 with the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos. Hendrick also played with the Bismarck Bucks of the Indoor Football League in 2021, earning Second Team and All-Rookie Team distinctions. Hendrick also has experience working with youth, particularly as a coach and sports camp counselor in his native Rochester.