May 20, 2014
THE FLATS – Veteran college and professional coach Ray Rychleski is officially part of the Georgia Tech football staff, head coach Paul Johnson confirmed Tuesday.
Rychleski, who has more than 30 years of coaching experience, will work with the Yellow Jacket special teams and help coach the offensive line.
“I am excited to have Ray as part of our coaching staff,” Johnson said. “He brings a great deal of experience, he’s been successful at a number of places, and I think he will fit in well with our staff.”
Rychleski spent the 2013 season in the Canadian Football League as an assistant coach with the Montreal Alouettes after spending the three previous seasons (2009-11) as special teams coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL.
In Indianapolis, Rychleski was part of a coaching staff that won two AFC South Division titles. The 2009 Colts team opened the season by winning 14 consecutive games on their road to Super Bowl XLIV.
“I have always been impressed with Georgia Tech and Paul Johnson,” Rychleski said. “This is an opportunity to be a part of a great football program and an outstanding coaching staff. I can’t wait to get started working alongside of Coach (Mike) Sewak on the offensive line and with our special teams.”
Prior to joining the Colts, Rychleski coached 28 years on the college level, most recently at South Carolina, where he was special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in 2008. Rychleski helped coach Steve Spurrier’s squad reach the Outback Bowl in his only season with the Gamecocks.
Rychleski had a streak of 110 consecutive games without seeing his unit allow one of their punts to be blocked. He has coached 12 specialists who played in the NFL. Five tight ends he has coached have been drafted in the NFL, while five others have signed with teams as free agents.
From 2001 to 2007, Rychleski was the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Maryland. In his seven seasons with the Terrapins, the team compiled a 56-31 record, winning an ACC championship and participating in five bowl games, winning three in a row (by combined scores of 95-17). He also helped the Terrapins win 10 or more games in three straight seasons, which was a first in school history.
From 1993 to 2000, he held various coaching positions at Wake Forest, including special teams and tight ends in 1999 and 2000.
Rychleski began his collegiate coaching career at Temple from 1981 to 1988 and also spent time with Northeastern (1989-1990), Penn State (1991) and East Stroudsburg (1992).
Rychleski was born September 27, 1957 in Old Forge, Pa. He earned his degree from Millersville (Pa.) State College (now known as Millersville University) in 1979.
