Coaching Staff
Rich
Bisacia
Asistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
Rich Bisaccia enters his first season with the Raiders in 2018, bringing 35 years
of coaching experience to the role, including seven years under Head Coach Jon
Gruden with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002-08.
Bisaccia’s resume includes 16 seasons of experience as a special teams coordinator
in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys (2013-17), San Diego Chargers (2011-12) and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-10). Bisaccia is entering his 17th overall season as an
NFL coach, and spent the previous five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys as the special
teams coordinator, including the last three with the added role of assistant head coach.
In Bisaccia’s five seasons with the Cowboys, he helped the team win two NFC East
titles (2014 and 2016) and guided a unit that ranked fifth in kickoff return average
(24.2) and ranked in the top five in two separate seasons, finishing third in 2017 and
fourth in 2013 after inheriting a unit that ranked 29th in 2012. Dallas was successful
in the kicking game under Bisaccia’s guidance, as K Dan Bailey connected on 87.4
percent of his field goals during that span. He tied for the league lead in field goal
percentage in 2015, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Bisaccia also helped LS Louis-
Philippe Ladouceur earn his first Pro Bowl honor in 2014. The Cowboys owned a net
punting average of 40.4 in his five years at the helm of special teams, ranking 10th in
the NFL over that span.
Last year, Bisaccia led a unit that pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 34
times, a figure that led the NFL in 2017 and marked the second most in franchise
history. The unit also ranked in the top five in kickoff return average, finishing third
with an average of 24.8. Bailey connected on 15-of-20 field goals while also hitting
26-of-28 extra points. Ladouceur was perfect on all of his snaps and rookie WR Ryan
Switzer finished seventh in the NFL with 856 total return yards (600 kickoff return,
256 punt return) and earned first-team All-Rookie honors from the Pro Football Writers
of America as a returner.
In 2016, the Cowboys’ special teams unit helped the team win the NFC East, as Dan
Bailey was true on 27-of-32 field goals (84.4 percent) and all 46 extra point attempts
for 127 total points to tie for eighth amongst league kickers. Bailey also became the
club’s all-time leader in field goals made after he surpassed Rafael Septien (162) during
the 10th game of the season. Bisaccia’s 2015 unit was highlighted with a Pro Bowl
season by Bailey. Bailey connected on 30-of-32 field goals to tie the highest percentage
in the NFL (career-high 93.8 percent), while also hitting all 25 extra points as he was
rewarded with his first ever trip to the NFL’s annual all-star game.
In 2014, Bailey finished the year 25-of-29 with a career field goal percentage of
89.8 and also hit a career-high 56 extra points. WR Dwayne Harris led all coverage men
with 18 tackles and Ladouceur, who was perfect on every snap for the 10th straight
season, earned his first career trip to the Pro Bowl. In his first season in charge of the
Cowboys’ special teams, Bisaccia’s impact was immediate in the return game, as he
upgraded the squad’s NFL kickoff return average ranking from 29th (20.6 yards per
return) in 2012 to fourth (25.5) in 2013. In particular, Harris’ 30.6-yard kickoff return
average was second in the league, while his punt return average of 12.8 yards per return
ranked third in the NFL. In the kicking game, Bisaccia’s work with Bailey helped him
finish the season 28-of-30 on field goals (93.3 percent). Bailey also set the singleseason
club record for field goals of 50-or-more yards with six in 2013.
Before joining the Cowboys, Bisaccia spent two seasons in San Diego with the Chargers
as the special teams coordinator in 2011 before adding assistant head coach duties in
2012. Bisaccia guided his unit to an immediate improvement in punting during his first
season, as the Chargers went from last in the league in net average (28.7 net yards per
punt) in 2010 to 10th in 2011 with a net average of 39.7. During Bisaccia’s two years
in San Diego, the Chargers ranked sixth in punting average (46.9) over that span. P Mike
Scifres had an outstanding year in 2011, averaging a career-best 47.5 yards per punt.
Bisaccia entered the NFL coaching ranks as a special teams coordinator with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. From 2002-10, Bisaccia served in various roles on the
Buccaneers coaching staff, working for Jon Gruden for the first seven years of his stint
in Tampa Bay. Bisaccia was the special teams coordinator from 2002-07 and he added
the responsibility of associate head coach and running backs in 2008 before spending
2009-10 as the associate head coach/special teams coordinator.
During his time with the Buccaneers, Bisaccia oversaw one of the best special teams
units in the NFL. He helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl XXXVII in his first season as an
NFL coach and guided three players to Pro Bowl honors (P Josh Bidwell, LS Dave Moore
and KR Clifton Smith) in addition to 13 NFC Player of the Week awards and four NFC
Player of the Month awards. Bisaccia’s units scored eight return touchdowns with four on
kickoff returns and four on punt returns. He also saw his group block 18 kicks – 10 field
goal attempts, five punts and three extra points – during his time in Tampa Bay, with a
league-leading six blocked kicks in 2009. In his nine seasons from 2002-10 with Tampa
Bay, the special teams unit ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in several categories, including
opponent kickoff return average (sixth, 21.0 yards per return), fewest kickoff and punt
28 2018 Raiders Gameday
returns surrendered for touchdowns (tied for fourth, five touchdowns surrendered), kickoff
return average (fourth, 23.0 yards per return), team gross punting average (10th, 43.0)
and punts placed inside the 20-yard line (seventh, 229).
In 2009, the Buccaneers led the NFL in kickoff return average (26.3 yards per return)
while ranking second in the league in opponent kickoff return average (19.1 yards per
return). The Buccaneers’ six blocked kicks on the season led the NFL and were the
second-highest single-season total in franchise history. Bisaccia’s unit also accounted for
three return touchdowns. The 2008 season was highlighted by rookie return man Clifton
Smith, as he became the first Buccaneer selected to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner and
earned second-team All-Pro honors. Bisaccia also oversaw the running backs corps in
2008, helping RB Warrick Dunn finish the season with 786 yards on 186 carries (4.2
avg.). Dunn also became just the sixth player in NFL history to record 10,000 rushing
yards and 500 receptions in his career during the 2008 campaign.
Under the direction of Bisaccia in 2007, the Buccaneers ranked 12th in the NFL
in kickoff return average (23.3 yards per return), seventh in punt return coverage (7.4
yards per return) and second in kickoff return coverage (19.5 yards per return). K Matt
Bryant had a then career-high 118 points, sixth in the NFC and tied for 10th in the NFL,
ranking third in Buccaneers history for points in a single season. WR Mark Jones also
set a then-Buccaneers single-season record for kickoff return average (28.6 yards per
return) in 2007. The Buccaneers’ kickoff coverage unit excelled in 2006, ranking first
in the NFL in lowest opponent kickoff return average (18.4 yards per return). For the
second consecutive season, a member of Bisaccia’s unit was sent to the Pro Bowl as LS
Dave Moore was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster.
In his second year with the Buccaneers under Bisaccia in 2005, P Josh Bidwell was
named to his first Pro Bowl and earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors
while ranking third in the NFL and first in the NFC with a career-best 45.6-yard gross
punting average. Bidwell placed 23 punts inside the 20-yard line in 2005, then the
second-highest total of his career, to rank fifth in the NFC. Bisaccia’s unit challenged
several team and individual records in 2004, including best kickoff return average
(24.2 yards per return), most kickoff return yardage (1,450) and most punts inside the
20-yard line (23).
The Buccaneers special teams enjoyed success throughout the 2002 season and
proved vital in the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. Buccaneers career scoring leader, K
Martin Gramatica, hit on 32-of-39 (82.1 percent) field goal attempts in 2002, including
5-of-6 from 50-or-more yards, while also hitting all 32 of his extra points. Gramatica
tied for the NFC lead with a career-high 32 field goals, while his 39 field goal attempts
and 128 points in 2002 were new club single-season records.
Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Bisaccia spent 19 seasons coaching at the collegiate
level. From 1999-2001, he coached at Mississippi, serving as the running backs coach
and special teams coordinator, adding the role of assistant head coach for his last two
seasons. He mentored All-SEC performers RB Deuce McAllister, RB Joe Gunn and K
Les Binkley during his tenure. Ole Miss also excelled on special teams under Bisaccia,
with Binkley setting a single-season scoring mark for a kicker. In 2001, the unit led the
conference and ranked 12th in the nation in kickoff returns with a 24.4-yard average.
McAllister, who was chosen in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, established 18
school records in his career. He ended his career with a team-record 3,060 rushing
yards and was named all-conference in both 1999 and 2000.
Bisaccia spent five seasons (1994-1998) as the running backs coach, special
teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Clemson. Under his tutelage, the Tigers
set a school record with eight blocked kicks in 1997. Over the three-year period from
1995-1997, Clemson had 15 blocked kicks, the most-ever for a three-year span in
school history.
Bisaccia spent six seasons at South Carolina from 1988-93, beginning as a
graduate assistant for tight ends and wide receivers in 1988. After one season in the
graduate assistant role, he was a volunteer assistant for the school for three seasons,
first working with defensive ends and special teams (1989-90) followed by tight ends
and special teams (1991).
Bisaccia began his coaching career in 1983 at Wayne State College (Nebraska),
coaching defensive backs and special teams. He switched to the offensive side of the ball
in 1984, tutoring quarterbacks and wide receivers for the next four seasons (1984-87).
PERSONAL: Native of Yonkers, N.Y. …Graduated from New Fairfield High School in
Connecticut…Attended Yankton College in South Dakota from 1979-1982 and was
a four-year starter at defensive back…Served as team captain in 1982 and earned
All-South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference honors in 1981 and 1982…Was a free
agent signee with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in 1983…Received a bachelor
of science degree in physical education from Wayne State…He and his wife, Jeanne,
have three daughters, Michele, Elizabeth and Maddie, a son, Richie, and three
grandchildren, Joel, AnnaJean and Cash.
17th season in NFL
1st season with Raiders