Gannon hires veteran football coach to lead Knights

Gannon University has its man.

Erik Raeburn, a northeast Ohio native, is the new head coach for the Knights football team. The school announced the hire at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Raeburn is no stranger to the Gannon program as he served as the program’s offensive coordinator for the 2019 season.

His experience in coaching college football spans three decades, including 19 as a head coach.

Erik Raeburn is introduced as the new head football coach at Gannon. @GUKnights pic.twitter.com/dpUU7UoVok

— Tom Reisenweber (@ETNreisenweber) November 19, 2019

“Erik is committed to both academic and athletic excellence,” Gannon athletic director Lisa Goddard McGuirk said in a press release Tuesday.

“Moreover, he is committed to fostering a positive and transformative experience for our student-athletes. With Erik’s extensive experience, combined with his knowledge of our program and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, he has the ability to begin building for success immediately.”

Before arriving at Gannon, Raeburn was the head coach at Division I Savannah State from 2016-18 and also the head coach at Division III Wabash (Ind.) from 2008-15.

In eight seasons with the Little Giants, he compiled a 78-13 overall record and three North Coast Athletic Conference titles (2008, ‘11, ‘15).

Raeburn’s first head-coaching job came at Division III Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he led the Kohawks to three conference crowns, two NCAA appearances and a 57-26 record from 2000 to 2007.

He got his coaching start as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Division III power Mt. Union.

“I’m excited to get back to work with our student-athletes to continue building our program,” Raeburn said in Tuesday’s release.