COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Ricky Rahne is in his sixth season at Penn State and second as the offensive coordinator.
- He has coached the quarterbacks in four of his six seasons. He worked with the tight ends in 2016 and 2017.
- Rahne also served as Penn State’s offensive coordinator in the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl and 2017 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
- Rahne made a strong impression on James Franklin when they coached together at Kansas State in 2006-07 and he joined the Vanderbilt staff as quarterbacks coach in 2011.
- Under Rahne’s guidance, the Nittany Lions posted their highest rushing average (204.9) since 2008 (205.8) and were No. 16 nationally in red zone offense (.897) in 2018.
- The offense had nine players garner 2018 All-Big Ten accolades, including second-team selections for Trace McSorley and Miles Sanders.
- McSorley capped his stellar Penn State career as the program’s career holder for passing yards (9,899), completions (720), 300-yard passing games (10), 200-yard passing games (28), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,697), rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (30), passing touchdowns (77), total offense yards (11,596), touchdowns responsible for (107), wins as a starting quarterback (31) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (34).
- In addition, McSorley set eight season records - passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, 200-yard passing games, 300-yard passing games, rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, total offense yards, touchdowns responsible for - and the game record for yards of total offense.
- McSorley was also selected as a 2018 National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar-Athlete and a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman.”
- In 2017, Rahne’s tight end group was instrumental in helping the Nittany Lions to a second-straight New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since 1985 (Orange) and 1986 (Fiesta).
- Tight end Mike Gesicki capped off a stellar career by collecting first-team All-Big Ten honors, as well as second-team All-America accolades from Sporting News.
- Gesicki broke all of the Penn State receiving records for a tight end and finished his career 18th in program history in receiving yards (1,481), ninth in receptions (129) and receiving touchdowns (15).
- The Nittany Lion offense finished in the Top 25 in FBS in fumbles lost (3rd; 3), third down conversion percentage (5th; .480), scoring offense (7th; 41.1), completion percentage (10th; .657), turnover margin (11th; 0.92), team passing efficiency (14th; 153.59), total offense (19th; 460.3), red zone offense (21st; .898) and passing offense (23rd; 209.2).
- In 2016, Rahne’s tight end corps played an integral role in the Nittany Lions claiming their first Big Ten Championship since 1994.
- Rahne’s tight end protégé Gesicki was selected All-Big Ten second team after setting the Penn State record for receptions (48), receiving yards (679) and touchdown catches (5) by a tight end.
- Rahne worked with Christian Hackenberg, who was the first 8,000-yard passer in program history and finished his career as Penn State’s leader in passing yards (8,457), attempts (1,235), completions (693), passing touchdowns (48) and total offense (8,215).
- Rahne joined the Vanderbilt staff as quarterbacks coach in 2011.
- Rahne’s passing attacks helped Vanderbilt wide receivers set SEC records and running backs post a pair of 1,000-yard seasons between 2011-13.
- In 2013, Austyn Carta-Samuels completed a superlative 68.7 percent of his passes (193-of-281), good for third nationally among FBS Power 5 quarterbacks. He entered the Top 10 in Vanderbilt season history with 2,383 yards of total offense, despite missing three games.
- In 2012, Jordan Rodgers posted the fourth-highest passing yardage total in school history and logged the eighth-highest total offense yardage.
- Rahne spent five seasons at Kansas State, serving as the offensive graduate assistant (2006), where he worked with quarterback Josh Freeman, helping him become a first-round NFL draft choice.
- He also served as the Wildcats’ running backs (2007-08) and tight ends coach (2009-10) and helped the Wildcats earn two bowl berths.
- A former pupil, tight end Jeron Masturd, spent three seasons with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.
- Masturd was an All-Big 12 first team selection in 2009 and graduated as K-State’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions by a tight end.
- Rahne also has coached at Cornell, his alma mater, and Holy Cross, where he worked with Sean Spencer.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PLAYER
- Rahne was a three-year starter at quarterback at Cornell University.
- He left as Cornell’s all-time leader in completions (678), passing yards (7,710), touchdown passes (54) and total offense (7,994). His records were broken during the 2013 season.
- Rahne earned honorable-mention All-America laurels in 2000 and was a two-time honorable-mention All-Ivy League pick.
- He was named Cornell’s Pop Warner Team MVP three times and finished his career ranked third on the Ivy League all-time passing yardage list.
- Rahne was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
- Trace McSorley (Penn State) - Baltimore Ravens; 2019 NFL Draft sixth-round pick
- Mike Gesicki (Penn State) - Miami Dolphins; 2018 NFL Draft second-round pick
- Christian Hackenberg (Penn State) - NFL (2016-17); 2016 NFL Draft second-round pick
- Jeron Mastrud (Kansas State) - NFL (2010-13); 2009 All-Big 12 first team
- Luke Siwula (Cornell) - Two-time All-Ivy League (2006-07)
- Josh Freeman (Kansas State) - NFL (2009-15); 2009 NFL Draft first-round pick; Two-time All-American honorable mention
- Jordan Rodgers (Vanderbilt) - NFL (2013); CFL (2015)
- James Johnson (Kansas State) - NFL (2008-11); 2007 All-Big 12 second team
The Rahne File
Personal
Hometown: Morrison, Colo.
Alma Mater: Cornell University
Degree: B.S., industrial and labor relations
Family: wife, Jennifer; sons, Ryder and Jake
Coaching Career
2018-present - Penn State (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2016-17 - Penn State (passing game coordinator/tight ends)
2014-15 - Penn State (passing game coordinator/quarterbacks)
2011-13 - Vanderbilt (quarterbacks)
2009-10 - Kansas State (tight ends)
2007-08 - Kansas State (running backs)
2006 - Kansas State (offensive graduate assistant)
2005 - Cornell (running backs)
2004 - Holy Cross (assistant defensive line)
Bowl Games as a Coach
- 2019 VRBO Citrus Bowl Penn State
- 2017 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl Penn State
- 2017 Rose Bowl Penn State
- 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl Penn State
- 2014 Pinstripe Bowl Penn State
- 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl Vanderbilt
- 2012 Music City Bowl Vanderbilt
- 2011 Liberty Bowl Vanderbilt
- 2010 Pinstripe Bowl Kansas State
- 2006 Texas Bowl Kansas State