Raiders Coaching Staff
Rich
BIsaccia
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
18th season in NFL
2nd season with Raiders
Now in his 36th year of coaching, Rich Bisaccia enters his second season with
the Silver and Black in 2019 and ninth with Head Coach Jon Gruden, having
previously spent seven years together in Tampa Bay from 2002-08.
Bisaccia’s resume includes 17 seasons of experience as a special teams coordinator
in the NFL with the Raiders (2018), Dallas Cowboys (2013-17), San Diego Chargers
(2011-12) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-10). Bisaccia, now entering his 18th
season as an NFL coach, spent the previous five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys as
the special teams coordinator before joining the Raiders, including the last three with
the added role of assistant head coach.
In 2018, Bisaccia fielded a special teams unit that ranked third in punt return
average (11.6) and eighth in the NFL in average starting position after kickoffs (25.8-
yard line). Standouts on his special teams units included WR/RS Dwayne Harris and
rookie K Daniel Carlson. Reunited with Bisaccia from their days together with the
Cowboys, Harris took home two AFC Player of the Week Honors for his exceptional
performances in Weeks 4 and 16, while Carlson notched one of his own in Week 11.
Under Bisaccia, Harris averaged 14.1 yards per punt return on the season, good for
the second-best single-season mark in franchise history and tying for the NFL lead in
2018. Harris also returned a punt for a touchdown, the club’s first punt return score
since the 2008 campaign. Additionally, Harris finished 10th in the NFL by finishing
with a 22.9-yard kickoff return average.
Carlson joined the team ahead of Week 8 and finished his rookie campaign
connecting on 16-of-17 field goal attempts for a franchise-record 94.1 field goal
percentage. Carlson was one of 25 kickers to attempt at least three field goals from
beyond 50 yards, but was one of just two to be true on all of his attempts. Before
Carlson’s arrival, K Mike Nugent connected on all six of his field goal attempts before
missing the remainder of the season due to injury. Additionally, Bisaccia mentored
rookie P Johnny Townsend, who punted 70 times in 2018 and grossed an average of
43.2 yards per punt, the third-best mark in club annals among rookie punters.
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.
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. 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. 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.
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 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).
Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Bisaccia spent 19 seasons coaching at the
collegiate level.
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 (Neb.)…He and his wife,
Jeanne, have three daughters, Michele, Elizabeth and Maddie, a son, Richie, and four
grandchildren, Joel, AnnaJean, Cash and Everett.
24 2019 Gameday