Penn State coordinator Rahne heading to ODU
Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne, who has worked with James Franklin since 2011, has been named the new head football coach at Old Dominion, the university announced Monday night.
The 39-year-old Rahne replaces Bobby Wilder, who resigned last week after guiding the Monrachs to a 77-56 record in 11 seasons, including 1-11 this year.
With the Nittany Lions, Rahne served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the last two seasons, tight ends coach from 2016-17 and quarterbacks coach in 2014-15. He was the Vanderbilt quarterbacks coach from 2011-13.
Rahne will be introduced at a press conference Wednesday at Old Dominion.
“We wanted a dynamic, highenergy coach who could relate to today’s student-athlete while also serving as an outstanding role model,” ODU athletic director Wood Selig said. “We have exactly what we were seeking in Ricky Rahne.”
Rahne and Franklin worked together on the first Kansas
State staff in 2006-07 when Rahne was a graduate assistant and then running backs coach and Franklin was offensive coordinator.
“I love Ricky and his family,” Franklin said in a statement. “This is a bittersweet moment for our program. I am so incredibly proud of Ricky and I am super excited for him, his family and Old Dominion.
“I am forever indebted to Ricky for his loyalty and drive in helping us succeed at Vanderbilt and Penn State. Ricky is a rising star in the industry and is built for this opportunity.”
It was unclear who will call offensive plays for Penn State against Memphis in the Cotton Bowl Dec. 28. Both offensive line coach Matt Limegrover and tight ends coach Tyler Bowen have previous experience calling plays, Limegrover at Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and Chicago and Bowen at Fordham.
Rahne’s departure leaves defensive coordinator Brent Pry, defensive line coach Sean Spencer and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith as the only holdovers from Franklin’s original Penn State staff in 2014. Rahne had the unenviable task in 2017 of following highly successful offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, now the head coach at Mississippi State. He also didn’t have running back Saquon Barkley, tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton, who are all in the NFL.
Rahne’s first game as Penn State’s play-caller came in the
2017 Fiesta Bowl against Washington, when the Nittany Lions gained 545 total yards in a 35-28 win. The Huskies had been first in the country in rushing defense and fifth in scoring and total defense.
“Old Dominion just got the smartest, most determined, cool, calm and collected coach in the entire country,” Gesicki tweeted. “So happy for him. Wouldn’t be where I am today without @RickyRahne.”
Penn State averaged 33.8 points
(32nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision) and 423.0 yards (45th) in
2018 and has averaged 34.3 points
(22nd) and 402.2 yards (67th) this season.
“I want to thank @RickyRahne for everything he has done for me these past few years,” quarterback Sean Clifford said. “Not only is he a great coach, but (he) has been a great mentor to myself and my teammates. I will miss ya Coach! @ODUFootball is getting a great one!”
Wilder, the former coach, was hired in 2007 to oversee the return of football at Old Dominion, which hadn’t fielded a team since
1940. The Monarchs returned to competition in 2009.
After going 10-3 and winning the Bahamas Bowl in 2016, Old Dominion has gone 10-26, including a school-record 11-game losing streak to end this season.
This will be the first coaching job for Rahne.
“My guy since day 1!” Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth tweeted. “Recruited me since the start and couldn’t be more thankful for his belief in me not only as a football player but as a person outside of football. @ODUFootball, you got one hell of a coach.”
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NOTES
State head senior punter Blake Gillikin was named Monday to the Division I Academic All-America first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. He was also chosen to the first team last year, becaoming the 12th Penn State player to be a two-time selection and the first since John Urschel in 2012-13. dGillikin, a 4.0 GPA in kinesiology, is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and threetime Academic Big Ten selection. He is third on Penn State’s career punting chart (42.99 yards) and set the program record with a 44.0 average in 2018 . ... Four-star tight end Theo Johnson of Windsor, Ontario, announced his commitment Monday to Penn State. The 6-6, 242-pounder chose the Nittany Lions over Georgia, Iowa and Michigan. 247 Sports ranks him as the No. 3 tight end in this recruiting class and the 83rd-best overall prospect.