Ryan Riemedio mans the helm for the third year as the Head Coach at Mercyhurst University. He was named the Head Coach in waiting at the beginning of the 2021 season, taking on the head coaching duties in January 2022 after the retirement of 20-Year Head Coach Marty Schaetzle.
Riemedio's second season with the Lakers saw the team go 2-9 while holding a record of 1-6 in the PSAC with Riemedio's first conference win proving to be a last-second win over Clarion on the road, 36-35. Coach Riemedio became the first coach in program history to have three games in which the Lakers score 40 or more points in three games over their first two seasons leading the charge after a 41-29 win over Lock Haven in their home opener on Septemebr 9th. The team's offensive success came in large part to their passing attack with their team completion percentage of 59.85 being the highest for a single season while having the fifth-most touchdowns with 23.
In Riemedio's first season, the Lakers finished 2-9, going 0-6 in the PSAC. The sixth coach in program history won each of his first two games, defeating Alderson Broaddus 45-28 and Lock Haven 49-7, for a margin of 94-35 in his first to career games. The team had two All-PSAC team members in Dustin Shoaf and Jacob Holl with Holl being named to D2Football.com Top 100.
The 2022 season marks 11 years for Riemedio at Mercyhurst. He led a defense this past season that ranked in the top 50 in all of Division II in Total Defense, Rushing Defense, Passing Yards Allowed, and 4th Down Conversions. The Defense had four PSAC West All-Conference Defensive Players (Keith Brickman (DB), Jehrod Gregory (DL), Jacob Holl (LB) and Tommy Zacharyasz (LB)). Along with his Defensive Coordinating duties, Riemedio will continue his role as the Assistant Head Coach and Coordinate Social Media, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, & Community Engagement opportunities for the football program.
In 2020, Riemedio was named the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. The Lakers had an abbreviated COVID season in the Spring 2021. Even without a full season, Coach Riemedio was busy off the field. He was selected for the NCAA Leadership Collective in January of 2021. The Collective serves as a tool to progress towards an environment of diverse representation in collegiate coaching and athletics administration. After the Spring Season, Riemedio was one of 36 participants selected to participate in the NCAA | NFL Coaches Academy. The NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy provides current, full-time intercollegiate football coaches at NCAA member institutions an educational opportunity to build connections and develop leadership acumen to pursue their career aspirations, expand their knowledge and insight into the world of intercollegiate and NFL coaching. Riemedio also holds seats on multiple committees across the Mercyhurst campus. He served on the Presidential Search Committee, the Equity, Inclusion and Justice Initiative Committee, and Mercyhurst BEYOND Scholarships Committee. He is also a member of the Staff Senate and chairs the AthL.E.A.D. (Learn, Educate & Advocate for Diversity) Student-Athlete committee.
In his eighth season, Riemedio lead the defensive line in 2019 that ranked 13th Nationally vs the Rush giving up 96.2 yards per game. Under his tutelage, Bradley Burrows and Ayron Thompson were named PSAC West All-Conference Players.
In 2018, he helped the defense that ranked 2nd in the PSAC / 35th in NCAA in Scoring Defense which allowed only 20.4 points per game. The defense also ranked 3rd in the PSAC / 44th in NCAA for total yards allowed with 331.7 yards per game. Following the season, Riemedio was selected by the PSAC to participate in the Minority Opportunities in Athletic Administration (MOAA) / D2 Governance Academy at the annual the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Conference. The MOAA/D2 Governance Academy provides intense training on Division II governance issues and strategic initiatives, introduce attendees to NCAA committee work and prepare young minority administrators for Division II committee service.
In his sixth season, Riemedio was a part of the Defensive Unit turnaround with first year Defensive Coordinator - David Kotulski. The 2017 defensive unit vastly improved giving up 14.2 less Points per Game and 40 less 1st Downs from 2016. In Rushing Defense, Mercyhurst gave up
12 less rushing touchdowns, 25.3 Less Rushing Yard Averaged per Game, and -1.2 Yards per carry compared to the 2016 season. Following the season, Riemedio was elevated to the Assistant Head Coaching Position by Head Coach Marty Schaetzle.
The 2016 season started a few weeks earlier for Riemedio as he had the opportunity to be an NFL Coaching Intern through the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship Program with Super Bowl LII Champion Philadelphia Eagles. During his coaching fellowship, Riemedio gained valuable knowledge and experience while assisting with the Defensive Line and Special Teams. During the 2016 season, Riemedio help guide Defensive Linemen Ryan Carroll to an All-PSAC West Second Team Selection.
Riemedio was elevated in the Spring of 2015 to the Recruiting Coordinating Position along with Kickoff, FG, and FG block Special Teams’ responsibilities by Head Coach Marty Schaetzle. He will also be responsible for the Program’s Social Media Campaign and Community Service
Programing.
In 2014, Riemedio was elevated to the full-time defensive line coach succeeding previous DL Coach Matt Gueguen who moved on to St. Francis University’s (DI – FCS) Football Program. The 2014 Lakers were Co-PSAC West Champions and was the only team in the country (FBS, FCS,Division II, Division III) to start the season with four losses in its first four games and then win out the rest of the season to finish with a 7-4 overall record.
In his second year as a Graduate Assistant (2013), Riemedio guided R.J. Miller and John Matarazzo to breakout campaigns. Miller was second on the team in receptions and was third on the team in receiving yards, earning a First Team All-PSAC West Team Selection and an ECAC All-Star Selection. Matarazzo excelled both in the classroom and on the field, he finished third on the team with Yards per Catch while splitting time with Miller at the tight end position. Matarazzo also maintained a 4.0 GPA and was named to the Capital One Academic All-America® Second Team and Capital One Academic All-District First Team. Offensively, Mercyhurst saw its first back-to-back 1000 yard rusher when Brandon Brown-Dukes surpassed the milestone once again. Mercyhurst finished the year with 2,616 yards rushing as RB Allen Jones II also surpassed the 1000 yard mark and selected as an All-PSAC West Second Team Member.
Riemedio was hired as a Graduate Assistant working with the Tight Ends, Full-Backs, and assisted with the Offensive Line in the Spring of 2012. Riemedio also took on the role as the program’s strength and conditioning coordinator. The 2012 Lakers finished 9-2 and was Co-PSAC West Champions and named the ECAC Division II Team of the Year. Offensively, RB Brandon Brown-Dukes Surpass 1000 yards rushing and named PSAC West Freshmen of the Year and First Team All-PSAC West.
The Marina/Seaside, California native came to Mercyhurst after spending three years coaching at Monterey Peninsula College (JUCO) in Monterey, California. With the Lobos, Riemedio was involved with many aspects of the football program- coaching the defensive backs, linebackers, defensive line, and coordinating the punt return & kickoff special teams’. He also was involved with the strength & conditioning program.
In his final season, Riemedio was promoted as the defensive coordinator and helped lead the defense to a Coast-Conference Championship and a berth in the Sierra Central Credit Union Bowl in Yuba, California. Monterey Peninsula finished in the Top 25 in the state and had a #12 ranking in Northern California. In three years coaching at MPC, Riemedio coached two All-State and 12 All-Coast Conference defensive players. He has also helped place more than 40 players to four-year colleges. In addition to coaching at MPC, Riemedio was a physical education instructor and an instructor’s aide with the Adaptive Physical Education programs.
Riemedio graduated from Minot State University with a bachelor’s degree in corporate fitness. While at Minot State, he was a two-year starter at inside linebacker, as well as the long/short snapper on special teams. In his two years at MSU, Riemedio was part of a Dakota Athletic Conference Championship team and named a team captain his senior year.
Before heading to Minot State, he earned an Associates Degree in General Education and played two years of junior college football at Monterey Peninsula College. Riemedio was part of MPC’s 19-3 record, two Coast Conference Championship (2004, 2006), two Bowl Appearances (2004 Graffiti Bowl, Modesto, Ca and 2006 Holiday Bowl in Butte, California), a State-Section Title (2004 Graffiti Bowl, Modesto, Ca), and named a Team Captain (2006). He is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association.
Riemedio resides in Erie with his fiancé Morgan, 10-year-old daughter, Amelia (Boogie), and 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, Kona.
Riemedio's Record at Mercyhurst
| Year |
W |
L |
|
W |
L |
| 2022 |
2 |
9 |
|
0 |
6 |
| 2023 |
2 |
9 |
|
1 |
6 |
| Career |
4 |
18 |
|
1 |
12 |
