Mercyhurst head coach Ryan Riemedio resigned his position to take the defensive coordinator role at Youngstown State. Riemedio helped lead the Lakers from NCAA Division II to the FCS. Mercyhurst also named Thomas Sydeski as Riemedio’s replacement.
In 2022, Riemedio was named head coach of Mercyhurst while the Lakers were still playing in the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Lakers went 2-9 and 2-8 in the two seasons before joining the FCS. In 2024, Mercyhurst began the transition to the FCS, going 4-7 overall with a mix of FCS and non-FCS opponents. The Lakers won their first game against an FCS opponent in the season finale at home versus Saint Francis (PA), 21-20.
In 2025, Mercyhurst had a full FCS and NEC schedule. The season started with a 24-15 loss at Youngstown State, followed by an easy 48-14 win over FCS newcomer New Haven. The next three games were on the road against ranked teams and Mercyhurst lost to Sacramento State, Montana State, and South Dakota State. The Lakers would win the next two games against Long Island and Wagner, before dropping two in a row.
Sitting at 3-6, Mercyhurst would post two more wins against Saint Francis and Robert Morris to reach 5-6. The season finale was at Central Connecticut State, with CCSU needing a win to clinch the NEC’s automatic qualifying bid to the FCS playoffs. The Lakers gave CCSU all they could handle, with the game tied at 28 entering the fourth quarter. CCSU would score early in the final frame to lead 35-28, while Mercyhurst made two drives inside the red zone. Unfortunately, the Lakers couldn’t score on either drive and lost 35-28.
Riemedio went 13-31 overall and 5-16 in conference games in his four years with Mercyhurst. He had been part of the Mercyhurst staff since 2012, when he was a graduate assistant. Riemedio will be succeeded by Thomas Sydeski, who was Mercyhurst’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Sydecki also coached at Bryant, Florida International, Old Dominion, and West Georgia.
Photo Credit to Mercyhurst University Athletics
