Jerome Riase was named defensive line coach in January of 2014 and has been at Wofford for four seasons. He has since added the title of defensive run game coordinator. Riase joined the Terriers after spending the previous two seasons as the defensive line coach at Butler University. Â
In addition to working with the defensive line, he recruits in northeast Ohio (Cleveland), south Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, and the metro Washington, D.C. area, including Virginia and Maryland. He also serves as the liaison with NFL scouts.
During his first four seasons on staff, he has developed six All-Southern Conference defensive linemen. The team has led the Southern Conference in rushing defense all four seasons.
Last season Wofford was first in the Southern Conference in rushing defense, along with ranking second in scoring defense and total defense. Nationally the defense was 25th in rushing defense and 26th in total defense. Opposing teams were held to under 100 rushing yards in six games and the defense did not allow a 100-yard rusher. Tyler Vaughn, Mikel Horton and Miles Brown all received All-Southern Conference honors, while Deon Priester was named to the All-Freshman Team. The team posted a 10-3 overall record and won the Southern Conference Championship with a 7-1 mark.
The Terriers were first in the league in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, and red zone defense in 2016. Among the national leaders, the unit was fifth in total defense and 11th in rushing defense (101.8 yards per game). The team held opponents to under 100 yards rushing in a game in nine of the 14 games. Tyler Vaughn led the team in tackles for loss with 17.5 and had eight sacks to earn All-Southern Conference first team honors from the coaches and media. Miles Brown was named first team All-Southern Conference by the coaches and second team by the media as he posted 12.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Additionally, Mikel Horton was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team.
In 2015, the rushing defense led the Southern Conference at 148.5 yards per game. Freshman Miles Brown was the team leader in sacks with 3.5 as he earned second team All-Southern Conference and All-Freshman Team honors. Brown added 6.0 tackles for loss and fellow lineman Boston Bryant had five tackles for loss. During his first season with the Terriers, the rushing defense was first in the Southern Conference with 107.5 yards per game allowed and the 1.91 sacks per game ranked fourth. Senior Tarek Odom was named All-Southern Conference first team by the coaches and the media, while E.J. Speller earned second team All-SoCon honors from the coaches.
Riase was named assistant coach at Butler during the summer of 2012. He had responsibility for the Bulldogs’ defensive line, and he served as assistant recruiting coordinator. In 2013, Butler posted a 9-4 overall record and was 7-1 in the Pioneer Football League. The Bulldogs shared the conference title with Marist, and then earned the league’s first bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship via the PFL’s tie-breaker system. Butler was defeated in the opening round by #17 Tennessee State. Riase had three defensive linemen earn All-Conference recognition, including Jeremy Stephens on the first team. Stephens is currently playing professionally in the Arena League.
In 2012, the Bulldogs were 8-3 overall and 7-1 to capture the Pioneer League title. Defensive lineman Jeremy Stephens was named First Team All-Conference and All-American, while freshman defensive tackle Kyle Annis was tabbed Freshman Defensive Player of the Year for the league.
Riase went to Butler after spending four seasons on the football staff at Ashland (Ohio) University. He served as defensive line coach at Ashland, where he helped develop ten All-Conference linemen including one Division II All-American. He coached Jeris Pendleton, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012 and was on the active roster of the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. Jamie Meder signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 as a member of the practice squad and started 15 of 16 games in the 2016 season.
He also had football coaching stints at Savannah State (2006-07) as the offensive coordinator and Central State (2005-06) as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. Riase began his coaching career at Talawanda High School in Ohio (2004-05). He participated in the 2011 NFL Coaches Academy.
Riase earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miami (Ohio) University in 2004. He and his son, Jerome Jr., reside in Spartanburg.
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