Bemidji State University

Rufus Saylee rejoined the Bemidji State coaching staff in 2020 after spending the 2018 and 2019 seasons as the assistant defensive backs coach at the University of Mary. Saylee will coach running backs during his fourth season overall on the Beaver Football staff.

Saylee helped improve the Marauders secondary from 248 passing yards allowed per game in 2018 to 207 passing yards allowed in 2019. The improvement bumped up UMary from the 15th ranked passing defense to the eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Saylee coached one NSIC All-Conference defensive back during the 2019 season.

Prior to graduating from Bemidji State and joining the UMary coaching staff, Saylee served two seasons on the BSU coaching staff as a student assistant coach during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Saylee played three seasons with the Bemidji State football program from 2013-16. After redshirting his true freshman season in 2013, Saylee played in nine games during both his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons. He posted four tackles in both seasons, including two solo tackles in 2015.

Saylee graduated from Bemidji State in 2017.