RICH JAHNER
Defensive Coordinator
Defensive Backs: Safeties
An original member of Jeff Tesch’s
coaching staff, Rich Jahner enters his 15th season as Bemidji State’s
defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator and his eighth season
with the title of Associate Head Coach.
Jahner’s defense has produced two All-America picks in the last two
seasons in Jake Anderson (LB, 2009) and Terrell Phelps (CB, 2008), while
placing five players on the all-conference first team in the same amount
of time.
Under Jahner’s watch, the BSU defense has consistently ranked among the
NSIC elite units, while making regular appearances in the NCAA rankings
and establishing program-highs.
In past four seasons, BSU has proven it is one of the best defenses in
the nation, especially against the run. The banner defensive seasons in
the entire existence of the program came in 2006 and 2007.
En route to its first conference championship in over 40 years, the 2006
edition of the BSU Gang Green led the nation in defense against the run
allowing just over 50 yards per contest, establishing a BSU record,
including holding the then-No. 18 Winona State Warriors to an
unbelievable -37 yards rushing. 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 Pittsburgh State in the 2006 Mineral Water Bowl.
The 2006 edition was also ranked top 20 in four national other
categories, sacks (3rd, 3.3 s/g), interceptions (8th, 22), total defense
(16th, 251 yds/g) and turnovers (19th, 20).
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 and a
mark that sat 12th in the nation.
The 2009 squad finished second in the NSIC and seventh in the nation in
rush defense, allowing 81 yards per game. The defense held its opponent
under 70 yards four times, including a shut-down performance against MSU
Moorhead that saw the Dragons go backwards on the ground with -11 yards
rushing. BSU was also ranked 14th in the nation in total defense,
allowing 277 yards per contest.
Six BSU defenders earned All-NSIC honors in 2009, giving BSU a total of
59 All-NSIC picks on defense under Jahner. Fourty-four of those picks
have come in the last eight years.
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 (AFCA), 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. and in 2008, he was honored
by being nominated for the AFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year
award.
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 in
and the North Dakota State University Football Camp in the last four
years. Jahner has also been active in the All Pro Dad program founding a
chapter in the Bemidji area.
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 and daughter Maris reside in Bemidji. His son
Trace is a sophomore at Minot State University and is a member of the
MSU football team.
Bemidji Area All Pro Dad organization website: http://www.allprodad.com/dd/571
