Rayshaun Kizer facts for kids

Rayshaun Kizer (born February 3, 1985) is an American football coach. He is currently the defensive coordinator for the Tucson Sugar Skulls in the Indoor Football League (IFL). Before coaching, he was a talented player. He played as a defensive back in several major leagues. These included the National Football League (NFL) and the Arena Football League (AFL).

Early Life and College Football

Rayshaun Kizer grew up in Euclid, Ohio. He went to Euclid High School. After high school, he played college football. He joined the Walsh University Cavaliers from 2003 to 2006.

During his time at Walsh, Kizer was a star player. He caught 14 interceptions. Five of these interceptions he returned for touchdowns. He was named First Team All-American in his final year. He also made the All-Conference team multiple times. In 2015, he was honored by being added to the school's Wall of Fame.

Professional Playing Career

Early NFL and CFL Teams

After college, Kizer tried out for the New York Jets in 2007. He signed with them but was later released. He then moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Montreal Alouettes for a short time.

Arena Football League Success

Kizer found great success in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played for the Green Bay Blizzard in 2009. He had 65 tackles and 4 interceptions for them.

He then joined the Orlando Predators from 2010 to 2011. In 2010, he led the entire AFL in interceptions with 12. This earned him First Team All-Arena honors. The next year, in 2011, he set a new AFL record. He recorded an amazing 16 interceptions. He was again named First Team All-Arena.

Later AFL and Other Teams

After his time with the Predators, Kizer played for several other AFL teams. These included the Philadelphia Soul, Arizona Rattlers, New Orleans VooDoo, Los Angeles KISS, and Cleveland Gladiators. He earned Second Team All-Arena honors three times. This was for his strong defensive play in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

He also had brief stints with the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL. In 2016, he played for the Qingdao Clipper in China. His last playing stop was with the Georgia Doom in 2018.

Coaching Career

After a long playing career, Rayshaun Kizer transitioned into coaching. He quickly became known for his defensive strategies.

Bismarck Bucks

In 2019, Kizer started his coaching journey. He joined the Bismarck Bucks of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He also coached special teams.

Massachusetts Pirates

Kizer moved to the Massachusetts Pirates in 2020. He became their defensive coordinator. The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. However, he returned in 2021. He was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

In 2021, Kizer helped the Pirates win the IFL United Bowl. They beat the Arizona Rattlers for the championship. His defense was the best in the league. They allowed opponents only 31.7 points per game. In January 2022, Kizer was promoted to head coach of the Pirates. He led them to an 11–5 record in his first season.

Omaha Beef

In 2023, Kizer became the head coach of the Omaha Beef. They played in the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) league. He led the team to an incredible undefeated season. This was the first time in CIF history.

The Omaha Beef also won the 2023 CIF Championship. Kizer's defense was outstanding. It was the best in CIF history. They allowed only 20.8 points per game. Kizer resigned from the Beef in December 2023.

Tucson Sugar Skulls

In December 2023, Kizer joined the Tucson Sugar Skulls. He is now their defensive coordinator. He continues to share his football knowledge with new teams.

Head Coaching Record