Photo Gallery
Gannon University announced today that Bradley Rzyczycki has been named their football team's next head coach.
Rzyczycki was chosen from a group of nearly 100 applicants from across the nation to fill the head coaching position. He had served as the program's interim head coach since late February, when former head coach Jim Kiernan announced his resignation after five seasons at Gannon.
“The search generated a large and extremely talented pool of candidates for this important position,” said Gannon University President Keith Taylor, Ph.D. “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 players 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.”
In addition to having overseen the Knights' recent spring season practices, Rzyczycki served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Kiernan for the last five seasons.
“I'm honored to be entrusted with leading this group of young men,” Rzyczycki said. “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.”
Rzyczycki, a key member of Kiernan's staff at Gannon since 2007, has directed one of the PSAC's top defenses the last four seasons. The Golden Knights finished last 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, he coached a defense that finished in the top 20 percent nationally in turnovers forced, sacks, third and fourth down efficiency and total and scoring defense.
Prior to joining Gannon, Rzyczycki from 2003-06 served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator with the football program at Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro, Ky. In 2004, Kentucky Wesleyan set a school record for sacks.
For the 2002 season, Rzyczycki served as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach at Saginaw Valley State, Saginaw, Mich. The Cardinals went 9-3 that season and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs.
From 1995-2001, Rzyczycki was the defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator at Mercyhurst University. During the 2000 season, the Lakers finished second nationally with 23 interceptions.
As a player, Rzyczycki was a four-year starter at cornerback for Mercyhurst, recording 127 tackles and seven interceptions.
A native of Twinsburg, Ohio, he earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Mercyhurst University in 1995 and a master's degree in special education from Mercyhurst in 2002. He and his wife, Ashlee, have one child, Yara.
