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Lyster Joins Duke as Safeties Coach
1/2/2024 2:50:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – Duke head football coach Manny Diaz announced Tuesday that Rick Lyster will join the Blue Devil gridiron program and serve as an assistant coach. Lyster will coach Duke's safeties.
Lyster worked for Diaz on two previous defensive staffs, most recently at Penn State University for two seasons (2022-23). The pair also spent time together at the University of Miami for one year (2021).
Lyster comes to Durham after a two-year stint (2022-23) as a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator at Penn State. During his time in Happy Valley under head coach James Franklin and defensive coordinator Diaz, Lyster helped the Nittany Lions to a 21-5 (.808) record and back-to-back bowl appearances, including a 35-21 Rose Bowl win over No. 8 Utah to cap the 2022 season.
Penn State's defense was one of the top units in the nation during that two-year stretch, as the Nittany Lions ranked in the top-25 in third down defense, fumbles recovered, passes intercepted, rushing defense, scoring defense, sacks, tackles for loss, total defense, turnover margin, and turnovers gained. Additionally, Penn State ranked first in the country in first down defense (181), rushing defense (75.5), sacks (3.77 per game), tackles for loss (8.5 per game) and turnover margin (+1.23), second in total defense (247.6), third in scoring defense (13.5), fifth in fumbles recovered (12), seventh in passing yards allowed (172.1), 10th in third down conversion defense (.302), 11th in passing efficiency defense (116.44) and 12th in turnovers gained (24) last season.
Prior to his time at Penn State, Lyster worked under Diaz at Miami for one season (2021) as a senior defensive quality control analyst. Miami's 2021 squad finished the regular season winning five of its last six games, including wins over top-20 opponents in No. 18 NC State and No. 17 Pittsburgh, and earned an invitation to the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. The Hurricanes ranked eighth nationally that season in tackles for loss (7.8 per game) and 35th in sacks (2.75 per game).
Before moving to Coral Gables, Lyster spent one year (2020) as the recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach at Fordham University. The Rams finished 2-1 during their shortened spring Covid-19 ridden season but ranked first nationally in FCS in passing efficiency defense (76.69) and turnover margin (+2.00), second in red zone defense (.538), fifth in third down conversion defense (.279), fourth in defensive touchdowns (2), sixth in passing yards allowed (136.3), ninth in first down defense (49) and 10th in tackles for loss (8.0 per game).
For two seasons (2018-19), Lyster was on staff at the United States Military Academy, under head coach Jeff Monken. Lyster served as a defensive quality control coach while on the Banks of the Hudson, and helped the Black Knights to 16 victories, including a 70-14 rout of Houston in the 2018 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Army West Point concluded the 2018 season ranked No. 19 in the final Associated Press national poll, marking its best final ranking since 1996.
Lyster spent three seasons (2015-17) as a graduate assistant on the defensive staff at Georgia Tech under College Football Hall of Fame coach Paul Johnson. He worked two years (2015-16) with the linebackers before transitioning to the defensive line his final season (2017). While in Atlanta, Lyster helped the Yellow Jackets to 17 wins, including a 33-18 victory over Kentucky in the 2016 Taxslayer Bowl.
Lyster began his coaching career at Monmouth University where he spent one year (2014) as a defensive assistant. During his time with the Hawks, he helped mentor Second Team All-Big South Linebacker John Sieczkowski. The Manalapan, N.J., native led the team in tackles with 85 and added 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack during his junior campaign.
Lyster was a four-year letterwinner (2009-10-11-12) as a defensive lineman at Lafayette, where he earned NSCA All-America first team honors his senior season. Additionally, Lyster helped the Leopards to 19 wins during his tenure and garnered two-time All-Patriot League nods (2011-12).
A native of Asbury Park, N.J., Lyster graduated with a pair of bachelor's degrees in international relations and government and law from Lafayette in 2013. He then went on to earn his master's degree from Georgia Tech in building construction and facility management in 2017.
Lyster is married to the former Lauren Berglin, of Glen Head, N.Y., and they have one daughter, Penelope.
THE RICK LYSTER FILE
Hometown: Asbury Park, N.J.
Education: Lafayette, 2013 (International Affairs and Government and Law) and Georgia Tech, 2017 (Building Construction and Facility Management)
Wife: Lauren
Children: Penelope
Birthday: Dec. 19, 1990
LYSTER'S COACHING CAREER
#GoDuke
Lyster worked for Diaz on two previous defensive staffs, most recently at Penn State University for two seasons (2022-23). The pair also spent time together at the University of Miami for one year (2021).
Lyster comes to Durham after a two-year stint (2022-23) as a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator at Penn State. During his time in Happy Valley under head coach James Franklin and defensive coordinator Diaz, Lyster helped the Nittany Lions to a 21-5 (.808) record and back-to-back bowl appearances, including a 35-21 Rose Bowl win over No. 8 Utah to cap the 2022 season.
Penn State's defense was one of the top units in the nation during that two-year stretch, as the Nittany Lions ranked in the top-25 in third down defense, fumbles recovered, passes intercepted, rushing defense, scoring defense, sacks, tackles for loss, total defense, turnover margin, and turnovers gained. Additionally, Penn State ranked first in the country in first down defense (181), rushing defense (75.5), sacks (3.77 per game), tackles for loss (8.5 per game) and turnover margin (+1.23), second in total defense (247.6), third in scoring defense (13.5), fifth in fumbles recovered (12), seventh in passing yards allowed (172.1), 10th in third down conversion defense (.302), 11th in passing efficiency defense (116.44) and 12th in turnovers gained (24) last season.
Prior to his time at Penn State, Lyster worked under Diaz at Miami for one season (2021) as a senior defensive quality control analyst. Miami's 2021 squad finished the regular season winning five of its last six games, including wins over top-20 opponents in No. 18 NC State and No. 17 Pittsburgh, and earned an invitation to the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. The Hurricanes ranked eighth nationally that season in tackles for loss (7.8 per game) and 35th in sacks (2.75 per game).
Before moving to Coral Gables, Lyster spent one year (2020) as the recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach at Fordham University. The Rams finished 2-1 during their shortened spring Covid-19 ridden season but ranked first nationally in FCS in passing efficiency defense (76.69) and turnover margin (+2.00), second in red zone defense (.538), fifth in third down conversion defense (.279), fourth in defensive touchdowns (2), sixth in passing yards allowed (136.3), ninth in first down defense (49) and 10th in tackles for loss (8.0 per game).
For two seasons (2018-19), Lyster was on staff at the United States Military Academy, under head coach Jeff Monken. Lyster served as a defensive quality control coach while on the Banks of the Hudson, and helped the Black Knights to 16 victories, including a 70-14 rout of Houston in the 2018 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Army West Point concluded the 2018 season ranked No. 19 in the final Associated Press national poll, marking its best final ranking since 1996.
Lyster spent three seasons (2015-17) as a graduate assistant on the defensive staff at Georgia Tech under College Football Hall of Fame coach Paul Johnson. He worked two years (2015-16) with the linebackers before transitioning to the defensive line his final season (2017). While in Atlanta, Lyster helped the Yellow Jackets to 17 wins, including a 33-18 victory over Kentucky in the 2016 Taxslayer Bowl.
Lyster began his coaching career at Monmouth University where he spent one year (2014) as a defensive assistant. During his time with the Hawks, he helped mentor Second Team All-Big South Linebacker John Sieczkowski. The Manalapan, N.J., native led the team in tackles with 85 and added 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack during his junior campaign.
Lyster was a four-year letterwinner (2009-10-11-12) as a defensive lineman at Lafayette, where he earned NSCA All-America first team honors his senior season. Additionally, Lyster helped the Leopards to 19 wins during his tenure and garnered two-time All-Patriot League nods (2011-12).
A native of Asbury Park, N.J., Lyster graduated with a pair of bachelor's degrees in international relations and government and law from Lafayette in 2013. He then went on to earn his master's degree from Georgia Tech in building construction and facility management in 2017.
Lyster is married to the former Lauren Berglin, of Glen Head, N.Y., and they have one daughter, Penelope.
THE RICK LYSTER FILE
Hometown: Asbury Park, N.J.
Education: Lafayette, 2013 (International Affairs and Government and Law) and Georgia Tech, 2017 (Building Construction and Facility Management)
Wife: Lauren
Children: Penelope
Birthday: Dec. 19, 1990
LYSTER'S COACHING CAREER
- 2024-pres. – Duke (Safeties)
- 2022-23 – Penn State (Defensive Analyst and Analytics Coordinator)
- 2021 – Miami (Senior Defensive Quality Control Analyst)
- 2020 – Fordham (Recruiting Coordinator/Linebackers)
- 2018-19 – Army West Point (Defensive Quality Control)
- 2017 – Georgia Tech (Graduate Assistant/Defensive Line)
- 2015-16 – Georgia Tech (Graduate Assistant/Linebackers)
- 2014 – Monmouth (Defensive Assistant)
#GoDuke
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