The 2026 Old Dominion Monarchs
The 2026 Old Dominion Monarchs. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography
2026 Media Day
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By Mike Langston
Old Dominion held its 2026 football media day on Wednesday, August 19th at S.B. Ballard Stadium. And while Head Coach Ricky Rahne wasn't ready to name a starting quarterback, he made clear what he expects the Monarchs to look like when the lights come on: physical, violent and tough.
"Any time I'm the head coach, the identity of the team is gonna be effort, toughness and violence. I don't care how we get there... you can still do that with violence, you can still do that with effort, you can still do that with toughness."
— RICKY RAHNE, HEAD COACH
Coming off a 10-3 season, Rahne said he's pleased with where the roster's identity stands heading into fall camp, even as the program replaces significant pieces on offense. "We're about where I thought we'd be, if not a little bit ahead," he said, while cautioning that nothing is settled. "In college football they fire national championship coaches two years after they win it, so I don't know if there's anything ever solidified."
CAPTAINS NAMED, LED BY A NEWCOMER
Coach Rahne with the four captains for the 2026 ODU Monarchs
Coach Rahne with the four captains for the 2026 ODU Monarchs. From left to right: Mario Easterly, Koa Naotala, Ricky Rahne, Brayden Walker, and Quinn Henicle. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography
The Monarchs have voted on their 2026 captains: senior linebacker Koa Naotala, quarterback Quinn Henicle, safety Mario Easterly, and first-year transfer center Brayden Walker, who arrived from Elon in January. For a new player to earn the honor so quickly stood out to both his coaches and teammates.
"For a younger player and a guy who is a new player to our program to come in and earn the respect of other people.. amongst his teammates, that speaks volumes about who he is as a person and a player."
— PHIL SERCHIA, OFFENSIVE LINE COACH
Naotala, who returns from injury in 2026, called the honor the biggest of his career.
"It's definitely better than anything, any accolade I've ever had in college football. It makes me feel proud that I've made an impact and that I'm loving all my teammates and leading my teammates in the way that I should."
— KOA NAOTALA, LINEBACKER
A DEFENSE BUILT TO LEAD, AN OFFENSE IN TRANSITION
Old Dominion returns the bulk of a defense that ranked among the top 25 nationally in several categories a year ago. Rahne pointed to eight returning players who logged significant snaps last season, spread across the defensive line, linebackers and secondary. Quarterback Quinn Henicle, one of three players competing for the starting job, said facing that unit daily in camp has only sharpened the offense.
"I think it's the best defense in the Sun Belt. Having that to go against every single day, it only gets us better, only motivates us more."
— QUINN HENICLE, QUARTERBACK
The offense, by contrast, is largely new. Newly promoted Offensive Coordinator Kody Cook is calling plays for the first time at ODU, and the offensive line will start five new players under Serchia, who followed Cook to Norfolk this offseason.
"It's been fun. There's no ones or twos right now. Everybody's trying to earn that spot."
— PHIL SERCHIA, ON BUILDING CHEMISTRY IN A RETOOLED ROOM
The Heart of a Lion award
Pictured: The Heart of a Lion award, an offseason team honor presented by the coaching staff to recognize players who display exceptional work ethic, relentless drive, self-sacrifice, and leadership. This year's winners were QB Quinn Henicle and S Lucas Struck. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography
Running back Trey Hall, who transferred in from Ole Miss, said he and returning back Devin Roche give the Monarchs a chance at one of the more explosive backfields in the Group of Five.
"We're gonna give them a show."
— TREY HALL, RUNNING BACK
SCHEDULE AND STAKES
Rahne praised Old Dominion's 2026 slate, headlined by an in-city rivalry game with Norfolk State, a matchup with nearby FBS opponent East Carolina, and in-state games against Virginia Tech and James Madison, as a "real college football schedule." He also pointed to JMU's Sun Belt playoff appearance last season as validation, not revelation, of what the conference is capable of.
"I always thought that a Sun Belt champion should be able to go be a member of the 12-team playoff. I think it just confirmed it, not necessarily elevated it."
— RICKY RAHNE, HEAD COACH
Watch the interviews with Coach Rahne, Coach Serchia, Quinn Henicle, Koa Naotala, Trey Hall, Chris Forbes, Lucas Struck, and Brayden Walker from media day below:
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Stay tuned to ODUMonarchists.com as fall camp rolls on toward the September 5th opener against Norfolk State. Go Monarchs!