Franklin announces change in coaching staff

Franklin Makes Offensive Coordinator Change, Hires Mike Yurcich

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania – Penn State Football Head Coach James franklin announced a change in coaching staff on Friday with the hiring of Mike Yurcich as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach and the start of Kirk ciarrocca.

“First of all, I would like to thank Kirk for his contribution to our program last year,” Franklin said. “It was a tough decision, but we felt it was better for our program to make a change. We wish him and his family the best for their future endeavors.

“We are delighted that Mike is joining our team,” Franklin continued. “He’s an impressive offensive spirit and a talented player who has set records wherever he has been as an offensive coordinator. I can’t wait to see what he can do with all the offensive weapons we have here at Penn State. I have followed Mike’s career for a long time, going back to his time with the PSAC in Shippensburg and Edinboro. We look forward to bringing Mike and his family back to Pennsylvania. “

“I want to thank the head coach James franklin, Vice-president for intercollegiate athletics Sandy Barbour and President Eric Barron for the opportunity to be Penn State University’s offensive coordinator, “Yurcich said.” Having spent 11 years in Pennsylvania as a player and coach, I understand the importance of this duty and I will represent it correctly and with humble pride. “

Yurcich (YER-sitch), who has 22 years of college coaching experience, including 15 as an offensive coordinator, joins the Nittany Lions after spending the 2020 season in Texas as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

During his career as an FBS offensive coordinator, Yurcich’s fouls have averaged 6.49 yards per play, which ranks first among OCs since 2013 and 14.03 yards per completion, which is the first among the Power Five OC during this period. Since 2013, Yurcich’s fouls have scored 50 or more points 26 times and 40 or more points 51 times (50% of matches trained), both among the best among FBS offensive coordinators since 2013. His teams averaged 61.5 affected per year.

Under Yurcich, the Longhorns placed eighth in FBS on offense (42.7 points per game), 16^e in passage efficiency (156.2) and 19^e in total violation (475.4 ypg). Texas also finished in the nation’s top 40 in passing attack (27^e; 280.1 ypg) and running attack (37^e; 195.3 ypg). The 42.7 points per game rank second in Texas history. The Longhorns had 17 different players capturing at least one assist during the 2020 season and nine with at least 10 catches. UT had 12 different players registering a touchdown.

With Yurcich’s guidance, Longhorn quarterback Sam Ehlinger completed 60.1 percent (184-306) of his passes with a big 12 of 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for eight points en route to taking second-team All-Big 12 and Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. First-year running back Bijan Robinson averaged 8.2 yards per attempt to rank first in the nation among rushers with more than 80 attempts.

Prior to his time in Austin, Yurcich served as a passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ohio State in 2019. During that season, the Buckeyes posted a 13-1 record and won a trip to the football playoffs. varsity, while quarterback Justin Fields was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and Davey O’Brien Award. Fields was the Big Ten’s offensive player of the year and won All-America Second Team honors from Walter Camp, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America. Fields placed third in FBS with 40 passing touchdowns with just three interceptions for the nation’s best touch-to-interception ratio. Fields finished with 51 total touchdowns, 3,273 passing yards, 306 responsible points and an efficiency rating of 181.4 assists.

Yurcich was the architect of one of Oklahoma State’s greatest offensive eras as the program averaged 38.0 points and 478.3 yards per game during his six years as an offensive coordinator and 2013-18 quarterback coach. OSU has scored 40 or more points 35 times and 50 points or more 15 times under Yurcich. In Yurcich’s six years, OK State has ranked fifth nationally in passing yards per game (315.9 ypg), seventh in total offense (478.6 ypg) and sixth in scoring. During his tenure at Stillwater, the Cowboys were 52-34 with four 10-game seasons, four bowl wins and two New Years appearances (2016 Sugar Bowl and 2014 Cotton Bowl).

Oklahoma State finished 10^e in FBS in total offense (500.2 ypg) and in passing offense (309.8 ypg) in 2018. Yurcich developed quarterback Taylor Cornelius into the top 10 nationally ranked players in passing yards ( 4^e; 3,978 yards), passing yards per game (6^e; 306.0 ypg), touchdown passes (8^e; 32), total offense (6^e; 337.3 ypg) and the points responsible for (5^e; 252).

The Oklahoma state offense in 2017 featured 4,000-yard passer Mason Rudolph, two 1,000-yard receivers to James Washington and Marcell Ateman and 1,000-yard rusher Justice Hill. The Cowboys led the country in passing yards (389.2 ypg), was second in total offense (568.9 ypg) and fourth in offense (45.0 points per game). Washington won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s outstanding wide receiver and Rudolph won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the best senior quarterback in college football. Working on Yurcich’s offense his entire career, Washington finished as OK State’s all-time wide receiver with 4,472 yards, which was the second in Big 12 history. In 2017, the Cowboys established eight school records in one season, including total offense, yards per game, passing yards, first downs and passing efficiency. The 2017 team hit the 50-point mark six times and eclipsed 500 attacking yards on nine occasions, including a school record 747 yards against Baylor.

In 2016, Oklahoma State was one of two Power Five teams to produce a 4,000-yard passer (Rudolph), 1,000-yard rusher (Hill), and a 1,000-yard receiver (Washington). The Cowboys placed in the nation’s top 20 in four categories. With a two-quarterback system in 2015, OK State threw 34 touchdowns and was seventh in FBS in passing yards per game (353.2 ypg) and 14^e in scoring attack (39.5 points per game). Yurcich produced the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year at Tyreek Hill in 2014 and led the state of Oklahoma to a 14^efinished in attack (39.1) in his first season in 2013.

Yurcich was the offensive coordinator for two seasons (2011-12) at the University of Shippensburg in Pennsylvania. In his debut season, the Raiders set numerous program records, including runs scored, touchdowns and an all-out offense. In 2012, Shippensburg led NCAA Division II in total offense (529.2 ypg) and was second in offense (46.9 points per game) and passing yards (387.7 ypg). Under Yurcich’s tutelage, quarterback Zach Zulli won the 2012 Harlon Hill Trophy as the best player in Division II. Zulli tied the NCAA Division II record with 54 passing scores.

The Euclid, Ohio native also coached six seasons at the University of Edinburgh, working with quarterbacks and wide receivers in 2005 before becoming the 2006-10 offensive coordinator. Yurcich also coached at Saint Francis, Ind. From 1999-2002 and was a graduate offensive assistant at Indiana University in 2003-2004.

Graduated in 1999 from the University of California, Pennsylvania, Yurcich received his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He also received his Masters in School Counseling from Indiana University in 2004. Yurcich and his wife Julie have two sons, Jack and Clay, and a daughter, Maria. Julie was an All-American cross-country runner in Edinboro.