RICH JAHNER
Defensive Coordinator
Defensive Backs: Safeties
An original member of Jeff Tesch’s coaching staff, Rich Jahner enters his 13th season as Bemidji State’s defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator and his eighth season with the title of Assistant Head Coach. The evolution of the BSU defense under Jahner’s watch continued in 2007, as the Beavers led the NSIC against the run for the second consecutive season, allowing an average of just over 70 yards per game. Five times BSU held opponents to less than 40 yards on the ground. The Beavers finished second in the NSIC giving up just over 300 yards of total offense per game while opponents scored just 17.2 points per contest against Jahner’s stingy defense--a BSU Tesch-Era record. Six BSU defenders earned All-NSIC honors in 2007, giving BSU a total of 47 All-NSIC picks on defense under Jahner. Thirty-two of those picks have come in the last six years. En route to its first conference championship in over 40 years, the BSU defense led the nation in defense against the run allowing just over 50 yards per contest. Seven times it held its opponents to less than 25 yards on the ground giving up its only individual 100-yard game to Germane Race of Pittsburg State in the 2006 Mineral Water Bowl. The Beavers paced the NSIC in 2005 piling up 13 fumble recoveries and finished third in the league with 27 total takeaways while the crew limited two opponents to less than 200 yards of total offense. In 2004, Jahner’s Gang Green defense assembled its best season, statistically, in nearly 20 years. BSU finished second in the NSIC, allowing just 22.0 points per game -- the lowest by a BSU defense since 1986. BSU also led the NSIC in takeaways with 32, and in league games only led the conference in scoring defense (18.4), takeaways (21) and turnover margin (+1.14). The Beavers closed the 2004 season with back-to-back shutouts, blanking MSU-Moorhead and Wayne State to record the program’s first consecutive shutouts since 1985. In 2003, the Beavers finished third in the NSIC (all games) in total defense and scoring defense, placing five defenders on the All-NSIC squad. The 2002 Beaver defense led the NSIC (league games only) in both passing defense (165.4 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (108.1). The squad held Wayne State to just 147 total yards in a 38-2 victory, and shut out Southwest State, 37-0. In 2001, LB Pat Engleright and DE Wallie Kuchinski earned First-Team All-NSIC honors to mark the first time since 1998 two BSU defenders were named to the first team. BSU’s defense was particularly fierce down the stretch in 2001, recording 38 tackles-for-loss and 13 sacks in the final four games while holding opponents to 17.5 points per game - seven points per game under its season average. Six of BSU’s 12 interceptions came in its final four games. Jahner’s defense opened the 2000 campaign with a 25-0 win over Minot State, marking the first shutout pitched by the BSU defenders since a 51-0 win over Mt. Senario (Wis.) in 1986. The Beavers then posted a second shutout in their record-shattering 70-0 win over UM-Morris, marking the first time the BSU defense had posted two shutouts in the same season since ‘85, when it posted three. It also marked BSU’s first shutout of a conference foe since ‘85, when it shut out Southwest St., 32-0. Jahner’s attack defense recorded 44 sacks in 1998, while the 1996 Beaver defense ranked nationally in turnovers, forcing 20 fumbles and 14 interceptions while scoring four defensive touchdowns. A member of the American Football Coaches Association, Jahner brings 16 years experience as a specialist in molding defensive units at the collegiate level. He was selected to coach in the 1996 National Collegiate All-Star Game in Louisville, Ky. In addition to his coaching duties at Bemidji State Jahner has been active in coaching clinics and football camps around the region. He has presented at the American Football Monthly (AFM University) Clinic, the Nike Coach of the Year Clinic and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic while he has been involved in the University of Minnesota Football Coaching Clinic, the University of Nebraska Camp and the North Dakota State University Football Camp in each of the last three years. In 2008, Jahner founded the Bemidji Area chapter of All Pro Dads. The Bemidji chapter is one of over 1,000 Family First innovative programs across the country, backed by Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy, helping men to become better fathers. Prior to his appointment at Bemidji State, Jahner coached the linebackers and defensive backs at Lindenwood (Mo.) following a stint as the defensive coordinator for Valley City (N.D.) State. His first college coaching assignment came in 1990 when he worked with the defensive line at Central Missouri State. Jahner, his wife Sheri, son Trace (19) and daughter Maris (15) reside in Bemidji. Bemidji Area All Pro Dad organization website: http://www.allprodad.com/dd/571
