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