ERIE, Pa. — Gannon football coach Brad Rzyczycki completed his 2019 coaching staff with the addition of industry veteran Erik Raeburn as the Golden Knights' offensive coordinator.
A head coach at three different programs over the past 19 years, Raeburn brings over three decades of experience in college football with him to Erie.
Raeburn comes to Gannon from Division I Savannah State, in Savannah, Georgia, where he was the head coach of the Tigers for three seasons. During that span, he led the team to more victories than in the previous seven seasons combined, and achieved the highest NCAA Academic Progress Rate in the program's history.
Prior to his stop in Georgia, Raeburn was the head coach at Division III Wabash in Crawfordsville, Indiana from 2008 to 2015. In those eight seasons, he led the Little Giants to a 78-13 overall record and won the North Coast Athletic Conference title three times. He was named the conference Coach of the Year after finishing 12-1 and reaching the NCAA quarterfinals in 2011.
Raeburn got his head coaching start at Division III Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he compiled a 57-26 record in eight seasons between 2000 and 2007. The Kohawks won three conference titles in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now American Rivers Conference), and Raeburn was named IIAC and regional Coach of the Year in 2002.
Raeburn got his college coaching start at his alma mater, national power Mount Union. In six years as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, he helped the Raiders to six Ohio Athletic Conference championships and three consecutive NCAA Division III national championships.
A 1994 graduate of Mount Union with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, Raeburn played for the Raiders from 1989-92, a span that saw the team got 37-5-2, win a pair of OAC championships and reach the 1992 NCAA semifinals.
Another new addition to the Golden Knight coaching staff is Taylor Nikithser. A graduate of California (Pa.), he will coach the running backs after spending last season as a graduate assistant at Ohio Wesleyan coaching tight ends.
Nikithser was a standout at CalU, where he was named the 2017 Rimington Award winner as the top center in Division II, earned All-PSAC honors three times, and was named an All-American and Academic All-American.
Returning for his eighth season in Erie is recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Arik Wolf. Heading into his fourth overall season at Gannon, Kevin Sonnie will continue to work with the wide receivers.
Defensive backs coach Jairus Marlow is entering his third season, and adds the strength and conditioning coordinator title. Also entering his third season on the staff, Zach Morehead will take over offensive line coaching duties after working with the tackles and tight ends a year ago.
The Golden Knights open the 2019 season on the road, heading to Southern Connecticut State on Sept. 5. They make their home debut the following week, hosting defending PSAC champion West Chester at noon on Sept. 14 at McConnell Family Stadium.
