Minnesota planning to hire former Penn State assistant as their offensive coordinator

Minnesota is planning to hire former Penn State assistant Kirk Ciarrocca as the school’s new offensive coordinator, according to reports. He has worked as P.J. Fleck’s offensive coordinator in the past for a combined seven seasons at Western Michigan and Minnesota. He was the offensive coordinator for one of the best offenses in Golden Gopher history in 2019, when they went 11-2.

However in 2020, Ciarrocca did not have his finest work with the Penn State Nittany Lions, but he certainly wasn’t put in the best of situations. His starting tailback, Journey Brown, had to miss the season due to a medical condition discovered in the off-season. He also had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic leading into the campaign.

The Nittany Lions started out the season 0-5 and finished 4-5 overall. Penn State head coach James Franklin decided it was time for a change and Ciarrocca was fired after the 2020 season. His replacement at Penn State was Mike Yurcich.

Ciarrocca at Minnesota in 2019

Ciarrocca was the offensive coordinator at Minnesota during the 2019 season, which was arguably the best offense in Golden Gophers football history. Quarterback Tanner Morgan completed 210 of his 318 (66%) pass attempts for 3,253 passing yards, while tossing in 30 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. The offensive unit also boasted a 1,000 yard rusher in Rodney Smith. Smith racked up 1,233 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns with Ciarrocca dialing up the playcall sheet that season.

The historic Minnesota offense also featured two of the best receivers in school history in Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman. Johnson hauled in 86 catches for 1,318 receiving yards, while bringing in 13 touchdowns. Bateman pulled in 60 catches for 1,219 receiving yards, while hauling in 11 touchdowns. Both players were not only all-time greats at Minnesota, but they’re currently on NFL rosters. Johnson is currently with the Tampa Bay Bucs and Bateman is with the Baltimore Ravens. Bateman is expected to have a very bright future ahead of him in the National Football League.

Before Minnesota, Ciarrocca was also the offensive coordinator for the 2016 Western Michigan team that went 13-1 and made an appearance in the Cotton Bowl.