Ryan Roeder enters his fourth campaign as the wide receivers coach at Lafayette.
In 2024 starters Elijah Steward and Carson Persing led the receiving corps. Steward’s 635 receiving yards led the Leopards for the second straight year, helping him earn back to back selections to the All-Patriot League Second-Team, despite missing parts of five games with a foot injury. In week two at Monmouth, Steward hauled in 15 passes for 244 yards, 42 of which came on a go-ahead touchdown to give Lafayette the lead with 36 seconds remaining. Persing paced the team with 53 receptions for 463 receiving yards while starting 11 games.Â
In 2025, Roeder’s receivers will feature a deeper group with more athleticism. Returning starters Steward and Persing will again be joined by soph. Mason Kuehner, who started four games as a rookie, with new additions in Lehigh Valley rookies Matthew Scerbo Jr. and Caleb Newsome, who highlight a talented freshman class.
In 2024, Roeder returned three starters in Steward, Persing and Chris Carasia. Steward led Lafayette in receptions as a sophomore, making 52 grabs for 738 yards and five touchdowns on his way to All-Patriot League Second-Team honors. Steward was seventh in the conference in receiving, helping guide the Leopards to their first Patriot League title in a decade. Carasia added five TD grabs while the rookie Persing had three touchdowns and also served as the team's holder.Â
A native of Bethlehem, Pa., Roeder worked two seasons on the Penn State football staff as a defensive analyst in 2021 and an offensive analyst in 2020.
Prior to his time in State College, Roeder spent seven years (2013-19) with the New York Giants working with the wide receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks.
His last FCS coaching job was as the tight ends coach at Princeton (2010-12) where he was also charged with the kickoff and punt return units.
In 2009, Roeder coached the wide receivers at the University of Rhode Island, helping All-CAA wide receiver Shawn Leonard lead the CAA in touchdown receptions.
From 2006-08, Roeder was an offensive graduate assistant at Temple University. That followed stops as the running backs coach at the University at Albany in 2005 and as the assistant offensive line coach at Holy Cross in 2004.
Roeder graduated from Albany in 2002 with degree in communications and psychology. He later earned his master’s degree in educational administration from Albany in 2009. Roeder was an All-Northeast Conference quarterback in 2002 when he served as a team captain and led Albany to the 2002 NEC title and an ECAC championship.
Roeder and his wife, Megan have two daughters, Lucie and Callie, and a son, Jack. Roeder’s brother, Jason, is the head football coach at Freedom High School in Bethlehem.
Updated 2/25
