-
Helped Nebraska to 2004 Postseason NIT
-
Helped Georgia to a Pair of Postseason NIT Berths, Including 1998 NIT Final Four
-
Aided in Development of First-Round NBA Draft Pick Jumaine Jones (Atlanta Hawks, 1999)
-
Aided in Development of First-Round NBA Draft Pick Antonio Daniels (Vancouver Grizzlies, 1997)
Entering his fifth year as an assistant coach with the Huskers, Reggie Rankin is a veteran collegiate assistant coach after serving with programs in the Big 12, SEC, Mountain West, Mid-America and America East conferences over the past decade.
Rankin has on-floor coaching responsibilities during practices and games. Behind Rankin's efforts, the Huskers have developed outstanding depth in the backcourt.
Rankin has continued to gain praise for his role in the recruiting process at Nebraska, both at the high school and junior college level. During the allowed NCAA recruiting periods, Rankin frequently travels off campus to evaluate and contact recruits.
Rankin’s exploits on the recruiting trail have paid off for the Huskers, as Nebraska has signed the top-rated players in the state (Jake Muhleisen, 2001; Wes Wilkinson, 2002; Jason Dourisseau, 2002) and has had success signing out-of-state recruits as well (Corey Simms, Missouri; John Turek, Iowa; Shuan Stegall, Georgia; Marcus Neal Jr., Maryland; Marcus Perry, Ala.). Rankin's efforts helped the Huskers’ 2002 recruiting class rank among the top 30 nationally by several publications and Web sites, including Bob Gibbons’ All-Star Report.
Rankin has also scoured the junior college ranks and helped Nebraska sign a trio of junior college All-Americans.
Nate Johnson, a letterman in 2003 and 2004, came to Nebraska from Penn Valley (Kan.) Community College, while point guard Marcus Neal Jr. enters his final season with the Huskers in 2004-05 after spending two years at Polk (Fla.) Junior College. Incoming transfer Marcus Perry from Southern Union State (Ala.) Community College is the third junior college player to earn All-America honors before signing with the Huskers. Both Johnson and Perry ranked among the top 10 scorers nationally in their respective divisions out of junior college, while Neal was the player of the year in one of the top junior college conferences in Florida.
Rankin came to Nebraska after three seasons on the staff at the University of Georgia. With UGA, Rankin helped guide the Bulldogs to berths in the 1998 and 1999 NITs, reaching the NIT Final Four in 1998. Georgia finished the season with a 20-15 record.
Rankin was one of the Bulldogs’ chief recruiters and on-court coaches. Through his coaching, Rankin played a major role in the development of Bulldog forward Jumaine Jones, who ended his sensational collegiate career early to enter the NBA Draft.
Before joining the Georgia staff, Rankin had successive one-year assistant coaching stints at four schools.
During the 1996-97 campaign he was an assistant at his alma mater, Ohio University. Helping with on-flooring coaching, Rankin helped OU to a 17-10 record that season.
Rankin worked for single seasons at Wyoming (1995-96), Boston University (1994-95) and Bowling Green State (1993-94). During Rankin’s first collegiate coaching stint at Bowling Green State, he played a large role in the development of Antonio Daniels, a point guard selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Rankin played collegiate basketball at Ohio University, where he was a four-year letterman for the Bobcats from 1985-86 to 1989-90.
Before signing with the Bobcats, Rankin was a standout guard at Linden McKinley High School, where he twice earned All-Ohio honors and was nominated to the McDonald’s All-America team in 1985.
Rankin earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Ohio University in 1989 and earned his master’s degree in 1990. In both his undergraduate and graduate work at Ohio, Rankin’s studies were concentrated in athletic administration.
Rankin and his wife, Monica, have two daughters, Alexis and Alexandria.