Gophers offensive coordinator leaving Minnesota for same job at Penn State

Gophers football offensive coordinator takes job at Penn State

The Minnesota Gophers football team will be landing in Tampa, Florida Thursday for the Outback Bowl without their offensive coordiantor, Kirk Ciarrocca, who has taken the same job with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minnesota Gophers football offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca is leaving the University of Minnesota’s program for the same job at Penn State University.

The Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin announced the move Thursday morning.

Ciarrocca almost departed the U a year ago for West Virginia. But, thanks to a late night call from head coach P.J. Fleck, he decided to stick around at Minnesota, putting together an impressive season in 2019, including a win over 5th-ranked Penn State.

He is said to have been a highly sought after candidate for other programs this year, especially after the success the Gophers had as an offense, seeing quarterback Tanner Morgan set school passing records, as well as producing the Big Ten Receiver of the Year Rashod Bateman.

Ciarrocca's has been Fleck’s right hand man on offense for many years, working with him for four seasons at Western Michigan University and all three years with the Gophers.

The move to Penn State will also be a homecoming for Ciarrocca, who is a native of Pennsylvania.

“It is an honor and a privilege to join Coach Franklin's staff and to work alongside such a successful head football coach,” Ciarrocca said in a statement. “Having grown up a Penn State fan, I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as your offensive coordinator. My family and I are overjoyed to be coming home to Happy Valley."

The Gophers departed for Tampa, Florida Thursday morning for the Outback Bowl. Fleck is scheduled to meet with the media there Thursday afternoon.