2011 Colts Media Guide - Nfl
2011 Colts Media Guide - Nfl
2011 Colts Media Guide - Nfl
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2 0 1 1 I N D I A N A P O L I S C O L T S<br />
RAY RYCHLESKI<br />
Special Teams Coordinator<br />
Ray Rychleski enters his third season as special teams coordinator of the <strong>Colts</strong>.<br />
Rychleski joined Indianapolis from the University of South Carolina, where he served<br />
one season as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.<br />
In 2010, Indianapolis ranked 15th in the NFL in average drive start by opponents<br />
on kickoffs (26.5), the 7th-best AFC mark. The club's performance was affected by<br />
injuries that resulted in multiple players moving into offensive and defensive roles<br />
and off specialty units. A total 27 players throughout the season notched special<br />
teams tackles, including five (LBs-Pat Angerer, Philip Wheeler, Cody Glenn and<br />
Kavell Conner and DB-Justin Tryon) with double-digit totals. P-Pat McAfee was 65-<br />
42.0, 21 In20 (35.4 net) in his second season. K-Adam Vinatieri (51-51 PATs, 26-28 FGs) tallied 129<br />
points, 2nd in the AFC, 3rd in the NFL. Vinatieri converted his last 17 field goal attempts in producing his<br />
14th 100+-point season, his 2nd-highest seasonal point total and the 4th-highest seasonal point total in<br />
<strong>Colts</strong> history. WR-Taj Smith blocked a punt for a touchdown against Dallas, the first such play for the <strong>Colts</strong><br />
since 1989.<br />
In 2009, Indianapolis ranked 7th in the NFL in average drive start by opponents on kickoffs (25.1), the<br />
2nd-best AFC mark. The club was bolstered by McAfee (64-44.3, 21 In20), who had a 37.8 net punting<br />
average, along with 21 touchbacks on kickoffs, T2nd in the AFC, T6th in the NFL. McAfee ranked 13th<br />
in NFL punting and helped the club to rank 18th in net average. Vinatieri (17-18 PATs, 7-9 FGs) and K-<br />
Matt Stover (33-33 PATs, 9-11 FGs) combined to handle the placement duties. Seven players had doubledigit<br />
tackle totals on special teams (LBs-Ramon Humber, Freddy Keiaho and Wheeler, DBs-Jamie Silva,<br />
Aaron Francisco and Jacob Lacey and TE-Jacob Tamme).<br />
Rychleski has 31 years of coaching experience, 27 at the collegiate level. In 2008, South Carolina ranked<br />
2nd in conference in kickoff coverage. Under his guidance, TE-Jared Cook, a D3-09 choice of Tennessee,<br />
was First-Team All-SEC. The Gamecocks reached the Outback Bowl after not reaching a bowl game the<br />
previous season. Rychleski spent 2001-07 as special teams coordinator and tight ends/H-backs coach at<br />
the University of Maryland. In his seven seasons, Maryland had zero punts blocked, the longest streak in<br />
Division I-A football. His units blocked 22 kicks and had eight returns for touchdowns during that span. In<br />
2007, Maryland led the country in kickoff return yardage defense, allowing 16.56 yards per KOR.<br />
Rychleski coached an All-Atlantic Coast Conference punter for six straight years (2001-06), had one specialist<br />
selected in the NFL Draft and had five others sign as free agents. During Rychleski's tenure, he helped<br />
Maryland to a 56-31 record and five bowl appearances. Rychleski coached four tight ends at Maryland<br />
who currently play in the NFL, while another three made NFL camps. He was a part of the 2001 team<br />
that won the ACC and had a BCS appearance in the Orange Bowl. The school produced at least 10 wins<br />
annually from 2001-03. Rychleski spent 1993-2000 at Wake Forest under Jim Caldwell, coaching the<br />
defensive line (1993-95), linebackers (1996-98) and special teams and tight ends (1999-00). Rychleski<br />
began his coaching career at the high school level in Pennsylvania in 1979. He spent eight seasons at<br />
Temple (1981-88), first serving as a graduate assistant in 1981. Rychleski served as defensive coordinator/inside<br />
linebacker coach at Northeastern for two seasons (1989-90) before spending 1991 as graduate<br />
assistant at Penn State. Rychleski was special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at East<br />
Stroudsburg University in 1992, where he helped the school to its best record in 13 years.<br />
Rychleski was born September 27, 1957 in Old Forge, Pa. He earned his degree in social studies from<br />
Millersville (Pa.) State College (now known as Millersville University) in 1979.<br />
PERSONAL DATA:<br />
College: Millersville (Pa.) State College.<br />
Coaching Career: Temple 1981-88; Northeastern 1989-90; Penn State 1991; East Stroudsburg<br />
University 1992; Wake Forest 1993-00; Maryland 2001-07; South Carolina 2008; Indianapolis <strong>Colts</strong><br />
2009-present.<br />
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