Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Facts With Assistant Coach Mike Lynch
July 30, 2014 | Football
Falcon Facts with Mike Lynch
Mike Lynch enters his first season as an assistant coach with the Falcons in 2014. He previously coached nine seasons at EIU, including the past two under Dino Babers. Lynch will coach the running backs at Bowling Green in 2014.
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As the running backs coach in 2013, Lynch mentored two backs who anchored a rushing attack which totaled over 3,000 yards. Shepard Little rushed for 1,551 yards and 15 touchdowns a season ago, while Taylor Duncan had 988 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Panthers.
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Lynch moved over to coach running backs in 2012 after coaching wide receivers the previous five seasons. During the 2011 season Lynch coached Jake Walker who earned second team All-OVC honors as he rushed for 1,133 yards on the season. Walker became just the tenth running back in EIU history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. As a unit the running backs rushed for 20 touchdowns.
In 2011 Lynch's wide receivers unit accounted for 20 of the team's 33 touchdowns with junior Chris Wright hauling in 11 touchdown passes. Prior to an injury to senior Lorence Ricks, the Panthers were one of only three teams at the FCS level with three active 1,000 yard receivers on the roster. EIU's wide receiver corps hauled in 160 passes for 1,960 yards.
In 2009 Lynch helped coach one of the youngest wide receiving groups in the nation as three starters were underclassmen. That unit responded by hauling in 19 touchdown passes with 184 receptions for 2,288 yards. It was a balanced attack where the top receiver had only 32 catches with eight different receivers accounting for Panther touchdowns. In 2010 that same group of receivers caught 193 passes for 2,279 yards and 18 touchdowns. Four different receivers posted 100-plus yard receiving days including Chris Wright with 217 yards during an overtime win at Tennessee State which ranks third on EIU's career list.
In 2007, EIU wide receivers hauled in 218 passes for 2,300 yards including another big year by senior Micah Rucker who had 9 touchdowns and 777 yards receiving.
During the 2006 season Lynch helped coach Micah Rucker as the junior receiver earned second team All-American honors for the Panthers with 13 touchdowns and 966 yards receiving.
Prior to joining the EIU staff, Lynch made a name for himself as a member of the Utah State coaching staff from 2000-04. While with the Aggies, Lynch helped coach three tight ends that would sign with NFL teams. Chris Cooley was a third round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 2003 draft while J.R. Suguturaga and Casey Poppinga both signed free agent contracts.
A Roseville, Calif. native, Lynch played two seasons at Sierra Junior College in California before playing two seasons at center at the University of Montana. His 1997 and 1998 Grizzly teams won 16 games making two straight NCAA I-AA playoff appearances. He would serve as a restricted earnings coach in 1999 on the UM staff.
Lynch earned his bachelors degree from Montana and a masters in secondary education from Utah State. He was married to the former Emily Schilling in June 2011.
Mike Lynch enters his first season as an assistant coach with the Falcons in 2014. He previously coached nine seasons at EIU, including the past two under Dino Babers. Lynch will coach the running backs at Bowling Green in 2014.
Â
As the running backs coach in 2013, Lynch mentored two backs who anchored a rushing attack which totaled over 3,000 yards. Shepard Little rushed for 1,551 yards and 15 touchdowns a season ago, while Taylor Duncan had 988 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Panthers.
Â
Lynch moved over to coach running backs in 2012 after coaching wide receivers the previous five seasons. During the 2011 season Lynch coached Jake Walker who earned second team All-OVC honors as he rushed for 1,133 yards on the season. Walker became just the tenth running back in EIU history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. As a unit the running backs rushed for 20 touchdowns.
In 2011 Lynch's wide receivers unit accounted for 20 of the team's 33 touchdowns with junior Chris Wright hauling in 11 touchdown passes. Prior to an injury to senior Lorence Ricks, the Panthers were one of only three teams at the FCS level with three active 1,000 yard receivers on the roster. EIU's wide receiver corps hauled in 160 passes for 1,960 yards.
In 2009 Lynch helped coach one of the youngest wide receiving groups in the nation as three starters were underclassmen. That unit responded by hauling in 19 touchdown passes with 184 receptions for 2,288 yards. It was a balanced attack where the top receiver had only 32 catches with eight different receivers accounting for Panther touchdowns. In 2010 that same group of receivers caught 193 passes for 2,279 yards and 18 touchdowns. Four different receivers posted 100-plus yard receiving days including Chris Wright with 217 yards during an overtime win at Tennessee State which ranks third on EIU's career list.
In 2007, EIU wide receivers hauled in 218 passes for 2,300 yards including another big year by senior Micah Rucker who had 9 touchdowns and 777 yards receiving.
During the 2006 season Lynch helped coach Micah Rucker as the junior receiver earned second team All-American honors for the Panthers with 13 touchdowns and 966 yards receiving.
Prior to joining the EIU staff, Lynch made a name for himself as a member of the Utah State coaching staff from 2000-04. While with the Aggies, Lynch helped coach three tight ends that would sign with NFL teams. Chris Cooley was a third round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 2003 draft while J.R. Suguturaga and Casey Poppinga both signed free agent contracts.
A Roseville, Calif. native, Lynch played two seasons at Sierra Junior College in California before playing two seasons at center at the University of Montana. His 1997 and 1998 Grizzly teams won 16 games making two straight NCAA I-AA playoff appearances. He would serve as a restricted earnings coach in 1999 on the UM staff.
Lynch earned his bachelors degree from Montana and a masters in secondary education from Utah State. He was married to the former Emily Schilling in June 2011.
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