Ernesto Purnsley

Ernesto Purnsley is an American football coach who is the running backs coach for the Sacred Heart Pioneers. He has served as the head coach of the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League (AFL) and the Guangzhou Power of the China Arena Football League (CAFL). He has also been a defensive coordinator for five different AFL teams.

Playing career Purnsley played college football at Catawba as a wide receiver and quarterback. He graduated from Catawba in 1990 with a degree in physical education. He returned to the Firebirds, serving in the same role as before, from 2000 to 2002.

He was the defensive coordinator of the AFL's Chicago Rush in 2008.

On January 26, 2010, he was named the head coach of the Utah Blaze of the AFL. He was fired after starting the season with a 1–6 record.

Purnsley was the defensive coordinator of the AFL's Philadelphia Soul in 2011.

He served as the director of player personnel, assistant head coach, and defensive coordinator for the Portland Thunder of the AFL in 2015.

Purnsley was the head coach of the Guangzhou Power of the China Arena Football League (CAFL) in 2016, compiling a regular season record of 2–3. The Power lost their postseason game to the Shanghai Skywalkers.

He joined the Sacred Heart Pioneers in 2023 as a running backs coach.

Head coaching record Team Year Regular season PostseasonWonLostWin %Finish Won Lost Win % Result Utah 2010 1 6 (Fired) - - - Guangzhou 2016 2 3 4th in CAFL 0 1 Total 3 9 0 1