Gannon University Athletics

Brad Rzyczycki enters his first year as Gannon’s assistant director of athletics for external relations in 2019-20.
 
Rzyczycki is in his 13th year overall as a member of the Gannon Athletics department after serving 13 seasons as a member of the football coaching staff, including eight seasons from 2012 through 2019 as the head coach.
 
He was named Gannon’s head football coach May 3, 2012 during a press conference in the Board Room of Old Main. Rzyczycki served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Gannon for the previous five seasons after spending four campaigns prior to that in the same role at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Ky. He briefly served as the Gannon interim head coach after Jim Kiernan stepped down from the post on February 23, 2012.

Gannon has reached unprecedented heights since his hiring as head coach. After a 3-8 record during his first season in 2012, Gannon improved to 6-5 in 2013 and 9-2 in 2014. The Golden Knights ended the 2014 campaign with a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division regular-season title. The squad also tied the school record for most victories in a season, a mark originally set when the 2003 squad went 9-1 as an NCAA Division II Independent.

The Golden Knights went 6-5 the following season in 2015, producing their third consecutive winning season and 13th in program history. It represented the program's longest streak of winning seasons since having a school-record four straight from 1992-95.

Gannon finished among the nation’s top 10 in numerous categories during the 2015 campaign. The Golden Knights ranked second among all NCAA Division II programs in fewest interceptions (2), fourth in third-down conversion percentage (52.3), sixth in fewest first downs allowed (160), seventh in total offense per game (514.6) and ninth in fewest turnovers lost (14).

The Gannon record book has taken a hit since Rzyczycki assumed the top headset. The Golden Knights have tied or broken school records 214 times during the last six campaigns.

“The search generated a large and extremely talented pool of candidates for this important position,” said Gannon University President Keith Taylor, Ph.D. upon Rzyczycki’s hiring. “Coach Rzyczycki was an early frontrunner and clearly emerged from the pack as the best person to lead the program. He has the respect of the student-athletes and staff, understands the program’s needs and possibilities having been an assistant coach at Gannon, is a strong supporter of the University’s Mission and knows what is expected of our student-athletes in the classroom and on and off the field.”

Speaking of which, Gannon has excelled on and off the field since Rzyczycki was named head coach. In addition to a pair of PSAC Top 10 Awards, Golden Knights have been named to the Academic All-District teams 15 times and Academic All-America teams nine times during his six seasons guiding the program. Athletically, Golden Knights have been named conference player of the week 72 times. Other honors include 40 all-conference selections, 28 all-region recipients and 21 all-america awards.

Rzyczycki has helped numerous Golden Knights reached the professional level. Three former Gannon student-athletes are currently pursuing their professional dreams. Randy Colling (2008-11) and Andrew Peirson (2013-17) are playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Colling, who played under Rzyczycki when he was the program’s defensive coordinator, was named to the All-Arena Defensive first team released by the Arena Football League (AFL) and was then picked No. 6 overall in the CFL Draft by seven-time Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders in May of 2017. Peirson signed a free agent contract with the British Columbia Lions in May of 2018.

Nadler (2011-15) was invited to minicamp for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) at the conclusion of his collegiate career and signed a professional contract with the Colorado Crush of the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2017. He then became the starting quarterback of the Sioux City Bandits in the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) League. Justin Caliste (2011-14) reached the professional level in 2015 when he signed a free agent contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.

“I am honored to be entrusted with leading this group of young men,” Rzyczycki said upon his hiring. “This is an opportunity to make an important difference in their lives, take the program to the next level and I look forward to growing together as a team.”

The 2017 campaign proved to be one of the most publicized in school history. Tailback Marcus Jones finished as the Harlon Hill runner-up after earning five all-america awards. He led all divisions of the NCAA in rushing yards per game (197.8) while topping NCAA Division II in rushing touchdowns (29), rushing yards per carry (8.09), total touchdowns (31), points per game (16.9) and total rushing yards. Jones was featured in the October 27 edition of Sports Illustrated as part of the national magazine's "Faces in the Crowd" for his monster season. He was also selected as one of the top NCAA football plays of the week by NCAA.com three times, including the No. 1 play twice.

Rzyczycki, a key member of Kiernan’s staff at Gannon from 2007-11, served as the program’s defensive coordinator for seven seasons (2007-13). The first five years came with Kiernan as the head coach, before Rzyczycki maintained the position during the first two seasons of his head coaching tenure.

The Twinsburg, Ohio, native guided Gannon to its 12th winning season in school history during his second year at the helm in 2013. The Golden Knights finished 6-5 overall, placing third in the PSAC Western Division with a 4-3 conference mark. At the time, the program recorded its first winning season overall and within the Western Division since the 2010 squad posted the same marks.

Despite his defensive background, Gannon has excelled on both sides of the ball during Rzyczycki’s first six seasons as head coach. Jansen Jones broke Gannon single-season records for rushing yards (1,588), all-purpose yards (1,817) and points (102) in 2013. Brock Jones, the 2014 PSAC Western Division Player of the Year, then reset all three records in 2014. Marcus Jones shattered all those marks in 2017. Nadler produced the top four single-season marks for passing yards in 2012 (2,910), 2013 (2,859), 2014 (2,750) and 2015 (2,641). The program’s top-six single-season reception totals have also been recorded with Rzyczycki as head coach.

Rzyczycki directed one of the PSAC’s top defenses during his time as defensive coordinator. The Golden Knights finished the 2011 season among the conference’s top half in scoring defense (25.2), total defense (349.5), rushing defense (140.2), interceptions (16), sacks (33), opponent third-down conversion (33.3) and red zone defense (70.2).

In 2010, Rzyczycki coached a defense that finished among the top-20 percent nationally in turnovers forced, sacks, third-down efficiency, fourth-down efficiency, total defense and scoring defense. The Golden Knights ranked first among PSAC teams in red zone defense (61.5), second in scoring defense (18.8), fourth in passing defense (179.7), fifth in total defense (304.7) and sixth in rushing defense (125.0). The squad finished ninth nationally in sacks per game (3.27), 20th in tackles for a loss per game (7.91), 25th in turnover margin (0.82) and 26th in total defense (304.73).

Gannon was second among PSAC teams in pass defense (172.18) and fourth in turnover margin (0.36) in 2009. During Rzyczycki’s second season in 2008, the Golden Knights ranked second in opponent fourth-down conversations (36.0), third in rushing defense (119.2) and fifth in pass efficiency defense (115.6). The squad was 39th nationally in total defense (313.4), 43rd in rushing defense, and 51st in pass efficiency defense.

Individually, Gannon defensive players earned All-PSAC accolades 17 times, all-region honors six times and all-america selections six times during his seven seasons as the defensive signal caller.

Colling concluded his collegiate career under Rzyczycki as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history in 2012. The defensive lineman was a Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year finalist, before being invited to Rookie Camp for the National Football League’s New York Jets and Green Bay Packers. He concluded a stay with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League where he was the team’s leader in sacks and tackles for a loss in 2013. In 2014, Colling signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills of the NFL before returning to Cleveland. A six-time All-American, Colling finished second all-time at Gannon in career sacks (25) and 12th in tackles (220). His 48 career tackles for a loss were 6.5 shy of the school record.

Prior to joining Gannon, Rzyczycki served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Kentucky Wesleyan from 2003-06. In 2004, the Panthers set a school record for sacks.

Rzyczycki was previously the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) power Saginaw Valley State for one season (2002). He helped lead the Cardinals to a No. 10 national ranking, a 9-3 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Before Saginaw Valley State, Rzyczycki spent seven seasons at his alma mater, Mercyhurst College. He initially served as the secondary and strength coach for six seasons, before being named defensive coordinator in 2000. His defenses were among the nation’s best during his tenure at Mercyhurst. The Lakers ranked second nationally in interceptions (2000) and third in turnover ratio (1997). Under his tutelage, the defensive unit set two school records for interceptions.

A four-year starter at Mercyhurst during his playing days, Rzyczycki manned the cornerback position from 1991-94. He registered 127 tackles and intercepted seven passes during his collegiate career.

Rzyczycki graduated from Mercyhurst in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He later earned a master’s degree in special education from Mercyhurst in 2003. He and his wife, Ashlee, have one daughter, Yara (8).

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