Ray Rychleski

Rychleski and Georgia Tech mutually agreed to part ways following the 2015 season.

Veteran college and professional coach Ray Rychleski, who has more than 30 years of coaching experience, is entering his second year at Georgia Tech. He joined the staff prior to the 2014 season and works with Yellow Jackets’ special teams and offensive line.

In Rychleski’s first year at Tech, his special teams unit led the ACC and was tied for the nation’s lead with six blocked kicks. Tech’s offensive line ranked second nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.79 sacks per game) and was led by first-team All-American guard Shaquille Mason. The O-line helped Georgia Tech lead the nation in rushing offense (4,789) and rushing yards per game (342.1) – both single-season school records.

Mason was drafted in the fourth round by the New England Patriots in 2015. He was the first Yellow Jacket offensive lineman drafted since 2009.

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.

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 2001-07, 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 1993-2000, 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 1981-88 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 in 1979.