Ricky Rahne

Ricky Rahne
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamOld Dominion
ConferenceSun Belt
Record19–28
Biographical details
Born (1980-07-19) July 19, 1980 (age 44)
Morrison, Colorado, U.S.
Playing career
1999–2001Cornell
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2004Holy Cross (assistant DL)
2005Cornell (RB)
2006Kansas State (GA)
2007–2008Kansas State (RB)
2009–2010Kansas State (TE)
2011–2013Vanderbilt (QB)
2014–2015Penn State (QB)
2016–2017Penn State (TE)
2018–2019Penn State (OC/QB)
2020–presentOld Dominion
Head coaching record
Overall19–28
Bowls0–2

Ricky Rahne (born July 19, 1980) is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach at Old Dominion University. He played college football at Cornell.

Early life

A native of Morrison, Colorado, Rahne attended Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, where he lettered in football and track and field. During his senior season, Rahne led all Colorado quarterbacks with 3,114 passing yards for 33 touchdowns.[1]

College playing career

Rahne was a three-year starting quarterback at Cornell University from 1999 to 2001.[2][3]

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Rahne spent the 2004 season as a defensive assistant at Holy Cross, primarily working with the defensive ends. Other important roles included coordinating the scout teams, breaking down opponents' game film and assisting the defensive coordinator in developing games plans.[4] Cornell head coach Jim Knowles hired Rahne as the Big Red's running back coach in 2005.[5]

Kansas State

In 2006, Rahne served as an offensive graduate assistant at Kansas State under Head coach Ron Prince and Offensive coordinator James Franklin. Scott Frost served as a defensive graduate assistant for the Wildcats during the same period.[6] In 2007, Rahne was promoted to running backs coach where he served for two seasons. After the firing of Ron Prince, Rahne was retained by Head coach Bill Snyder as the tight ends coach, a position he would hold for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.[7]

Vanderbilt

In December 2010, Rahne was hired away from Kansas State to lead the quarterbacks for James Franklin and the Vanderbilt Commodores. At the time of the hire Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder was quoted as saying, “I am proud of Ricky, He is a fine young coach and person. His desire was to become a quarterback coach and that opportunity presented itself at Vanderbilt. I am happy for him and his wonderful family.”[8] It is a position he would hold for three successful seasons mentoring quarterbacks Jordan Rodgers and Austyn Carta-Samuels. Rodgers, under Rahne's guidance, finished 2012 season completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,539 yards, and 15 touchdowns to 5 interceptions.[9] Following the season, Rodgers would sign a free agent deal with the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars.[10]

Penn State

Following coach James Franklin, Rahne spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the Penn State Nittany Lions quarterbacks coach. Working with quarterback Christian Hackenberg, Rahne helped him break all of the Nittany Lions major career passing records. Hackenberg finished his career with 693 completions, 8,457 passing yards, 48 touchdown passes, 9 career 300-yard passing games, and 21 200-yard passing games.[11] After the final game of the 2015 regular season, John Donovan was fired as Penn States offensive coordinator, and replaced by Rahne as the interim to coach the TaxSlayer Bowl. During preparation for the bowl game, it was announced that ex-Fordham Head coach, Joe Moorhead would be taking over as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2016 season. Rahne took over as tight ends coach, a position that was previously held by Donovan.[12]

During his time as the tight ends coach Rahne mentored Mackey Award finalist Mike Gesicki as he broke the Penn State career record for receptions (123), receiving yards (1,419) and touchdowns (15) by a tight end. Gesicki was selected first-team All-Big Ten in 2017 and second team in 2016. Gesicki set single-season records at Penn State for receptions (51), receiving yards (679) and touchdown catches (9) by a tight end.[13]

On December 1, 2017, Rahne was named Penn States offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after Joe Moorhead left the Nittany Lions to become the head coach at Mississippi State.[14]

In 2018, Penn State saw its best rushing production in 10 years, averaging 204.9 yards per game. That was good enough to finish 29th nationally, and fifth in the Big Ten.[15] That season the offensive line was led by center Connor McGovern, who was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL draft, and tackle Ryan Bates.[16] Junior running back Miles Sanders, who was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2019 NFL Draft, rushed for over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns.[17] Senior quarterback Trace McSorley, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, passed for 2,284 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also ran for 723 yards and 11 scores.[18] Both Sanders and McSorley earned second team All-Big Ten honors.[19]

In 2019, Rahne helped lead the Nittany Lion offense to 34 points and 204.9 rushing yards per game.[20] Wide receiver K. J. Hamler, guard Steven Gonzalez and tight end Pat Freiermuth earned second team All-Big Ten honors.[21] Hamler was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.[22]

Old Dominion

On December 9, 2019, it was announced that Rahne had been selected as the next head football coach at Old Dominion.[23] On August 10, 2020, Old Dominion University announced the cancellation of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24][25]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Old Dominion Monarchs (Conference USA) (2020–2021)
2020 No team—COVID-19
2021 Old Dominion 6–7 5–3 T–2nd (East) L Myrtle Beach
Old Dominion Monarchs (Sun Belt Conference) (2022–present)
2022 Old Dominion 3–9 2–6 7th (East)
2023 Old Dominion 6–7 5–3 T–3rd (East) L Famous Toastery
2024 Old Dominion 4–5 3–2 (East)
Old Dominion: 19–28 15–14
Total: 19–28

References

  1. ^ "Going Shopping for a Ring", The Cornell Daily Sun, September 21, 2001, retrieved February 17, 2018.
  2. ^ Hall of Fame, cornellbigred.com, retrieved February 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Football Team Gives Out Annual Awards", The Cornell Daily Sun, January 31, 2001, retrieved February 17, 2018.
  4. ^ 2009 K-State Football Media Guide, p. 65, retrieved February 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Knowles Brings In New Assistant Coaches to Staff", The Cornell Daily Sun, April 28, 2005, retrieved February 17, 2018.
  6. ^ Greif, Andrew."A player's instinct and teacher's eye put Scott Frost in line for possible head coaching job", The Oregonian, December 28, 2013, retrieved February 22, 2018.
  7. ^ 2010 K-State Football Media Guide, p. 65, retrieved February 22, 2018.
  8. ^ Taylor, John."Franklin filling holes on Vandy coaching staff", collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com, December 21, 2010, retrieved February 22, 2018.
  9. ^ Jordan Rodgers Bio, retrieved February 22, 2018.
  10. ^ Wesseling, Chris (April 27, 2013). "Aaron Rodgers' brother to join Jacksonville Jaguars". National Football League. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  11. ^ Christian Hackenberg Penn State Bio Archived September 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, gopsusports.com, retrieved February 23, 2018.
  12. ^ Cohn, Bob."Spotlight is shining on an unlikely PSU pair ahead of TaxSlayer Bowl", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 31, 2015, retrieved February 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "Rahne promoted to PSU offensive coordinator", wearecentralpa.com, December 1, 2018, retrieved February 22, 2018.
  14. ^ Hirsh, Jack."Meet Ricky Rahne | What you need to know about Penn State football’s new offensive coordinator", The Daily Collegian, December 1, 2017, retrieved February 23, 2018.
  15. ^ DiPaola, Jerry."Penn State fires offensive line coach Matt Limegrover", TribLive, December 31, 2019, retrieved January 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Ferree, Benjamin."Penn State football's Connor McGovern drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round", Daily Collegian, April 26, 2019, retrieved January 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Jones, Ben (April 26, 2019). "Penn State Football: Philadelphia Eagles Select Miles Sanders In The Second Round". StateCollege.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  18. ^ Jones, Ben (April 27, 2019). "Penn State Football: Trace McSorley Goes To Baltimore Ravens In Sixth Round". StateCollege.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Hill, Elissa (November 29, 2018). "Penn State Football: McSorley And Sanders Earn All-Big Ten Honors". StateCollege.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  20. ^ Hockensmith, Dustin (December 26, 2019). "Penn State-Memphis Cotton Bowl game predictions: Lions' run game has a chance to run wild". PennLive.com. © 2019 Advance Local Media LLC. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  21. ^ "Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams for Offense and Select Individual Honors". Big Ten Conference. December 4, 2019. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  22. ^ Gantt, Darin (April 24, 2020). "Broncos double up at receiver, take K.J. Hamler 46th". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  23. ^ "Ricky Rahne Named ODU Football Head Coach". odusports.com. Old Dominion University Athletics. December 9, 2019. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  24. ^ "Old Dominion postponing football and fall sports". The Virginian Pilot. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  25. ^ "Old Dominion latest FBS team to cancel 2020 college football season amid COVID-19 concerns". CBSsports.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.