Ryne Strickland joined the WKU Football coaching staff in the spring of 2025. He currently serves in a Quality Control – Offensive Line role with the Hilltoppers.
Strickland makes his way to The Hill after spending the 2024 season at Troy as an Assistant (Offense). The Trojans averaged 26.8 points and 378.5 yards per game, and finished fourth in the Sun Belt in passing touchdowns. Running back Damien Taylor finished second in the SBC in rushing with 93.1 yards per game and was named an All-SBC Second Team Offense selection behind an offensive line anchored by fellow All-SBC Second Team Offense pick Daniel King. Offensive lineman Eli Russ finished as an All-Conference Honorable Mention pick.
Before making his way to Troy, Strickland worked as an Assistant Offensive Line Coach at Valdosta State in 2023 and a Volunteer Offensive Line Coach with the Blazers in 2022. There, he worked closely with Offensive Coordinator Rick Bowie. He helped Valdosta State to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals in 2023, as well as the Gulf South Conference title. The Blazer offense averaged 36.9 points per game and was in the top 10 nationally in passing yards per game and total touchdowns that season.
In 2022, Valdosta State was the only team in Division II to rank in the top 25 in both passing and rushing.
Before going to Valdosta State, Strickland spent five seasons coaching in the high school ranks in Georgia and Alabama.
During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Strickland coached the offensive line at Central-Phenix City in Phenix City, Alabama, posting a record of 21-6 over two seasons. While there, he had three offensive linemen sign to play football at the next level. Strickland helped guide his team to a 6A state runner-up finish in 2021 and a Region 2-6A title, as the team averaged 236 rushing yards per game and allowed just five sacks. In 2020, the team finished in the 6A state semifinals, averaging 237 yards on the ground per game.
Strickland spent the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons in various roles at Lee County High School in Leesburg, Georgia, helping lead the Trojans to a 40-3 record over during that span, including back-to-back 6A State Championships in 2017 and 2018, and three-straight Region 1-6A titles. In three seasons at Lee County, he helped develop five offensive linemen to sign NCAA Division I football scholarships.
In 2019, Strickland was the Tight Ends/H-Backs Coach, leading to both players being named to the 1-6A All-Region Team on the way to the 6A state quarterfinals as the team averaged 143 rushing yards per game. In 2018, he served as Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator on the way to a perfect 15-0 season, the 6A State Championship and all five starting offensive linemen earning Region 1-6A All-Region honors. The 2017 season saw him serve as Assistant Offensive Line Coach, primarily working with the tackles and tight ends during a 14-1 campaign. The team won the 6A State Championship – the first in school history – while averaging 123 yards on the ground per game.
Strickland graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2017 and obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from Valdosta State in 2020.
He is married to Dr. Shelby Hooks.
