ODU Football: Rahne announces two more staff additions

ODU football coach Ricky Rahne announced Thursday the additions of Jonathan DeCoster and Andrew Jackson as assistant coaches.

DeCoster will coach the tight ends, while Jackson, the defensive line.

DeCoster comes to ODU after spending the last three seasons as a graduate assistant tight ends coach at this year’s national champion, LSU. The Tigers led the nation in total offense, scoring offense and red zone offense in 2019 and finished second in passing offense.

He coached the offensive line at West Virginia State for two seasons, helping the Yellow Jackets break 15 school records. DeCoster began his coaching career in 2013 as a graduate assistant offensive line coach at Nevada.

DeCoster was a four-year starter at right tackle at Louisiana Lafayette. He helped the Ragin’ Cajuns finish in the top 10 in FBS rushing two-straight years.

“I’m excited to add John to our staff,” Rahne said. “His experience in a wide variety of roles will be extremely valuable. He has proven to be both a great teacher and recruiter. I look forward to adding his championship mentality to the Monarch family.”

Jackson joins the Monarchs after spending the 2019 season at James Madison. This season, he helped guide one defensive tackle to all-conference honors, as Mike Greene was named Third Team All-CAA defensive lineman after leading the CAA in sacks by interior linemen. JMU led the FCS in total defense and was third in scoring defense.

The Dukes were the FCS runner-up this season.

Jackson was the defensive quality control coach at Mississippi State in 2018, helping the Bulldogs to an 8-5 record and berth in the Outback Bowl. MSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight defensive categories, highlighted by leading the country in total defense (263.1).

In 2017 he coached the defensive line at Fordham and prior to that was a graduate assistant with the defensive line for two years at Penn State.

He spent two years as an assistant at Stony Brook and started his coaching career at LIU Post.

Jackson was a three-year starter at LIU Post on the defensive line.

“I have been impressed with Andrew since the first day that I worked with him,” Rahne said. “His energy and work ethic breed respect from everyone. He has consistently proven to produce defensive lines that create havoc and I know that his unit will be fun to watch this fall.”

Season tickets are on sale and ODU has introduced a $150 season ticket option for a reserved benchback seat. New season ticket buyers can now purchase season tickets at www.ynottix.com.

Returning season ticket holders do not need to act at this time as those seats are being held. Returning season ticket holders will have until May 1 to renew.