FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College has announced the hiring of Assistant Football Coach Ralph Isernia, who comes to the Panthers from the University of Charleston. Isernia is Head Coach Dave Harper's first hire and will take on the role of Offensive Coordinator at Ferrum.
Isernia spent the past six years as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Charleston, where he helped the Golden Eagles rewrite the football program's offensive records and established UC as a perennial contender in the NCAA Div. II West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UC's offense was ranked in the top 10 in rushing offense and fewest sacks allowed in 2010. The offense topped the 30-point mark for average points per game, and saw nine rushers average over 4.5 yards per carry and six receivers average over 15 yards per reception.
In 2009, Isernia helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 9-2 record and a No. 19 ranking. The UC offense that year set numerous records and finished first in the nation in pass efficiency, fourth in rushing, seventh in scoring, and seventh in red zone offense. Two Charleston players signed as free agents with NFL teams that year, one with the Miami Dolphins and the other with the Detroit Lions. Isernia was a finalist for the Div. II Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2008, 2009 & 2010.
Isernia's coaching stops include stints at Bucknell University, Mansfield University, Defiance College, Methodist University and Western Connecticut State University. He served as offensive line coach at Bucknell in 2004 and helped the Bison to a 7-4 record, its best finish since 1999, and a No. 30 national ranking. Offensively, the team was ranked ninth in rushing offense and eleventh in pass efficiency among NCAA Div. I-AA schools.
In his 19 years of coaching, Isernia has coached 64 All-Conference players, 17 All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans and two AFCA Good Works All-Americans. From the six different schools he has coached at, Isernia's offenses have established the all-time leading passer five times, the all-time leading rusher two times and the all-time leading receiver four times.
Isernia and his wife Lynn have three children – Rett, Grace, and Ryan.
