Rutgers' new OC Ciarrocca comes from Minnesota

Updated Jan. 7, 2023 12:39 p.m. ET

Associated Press

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — For the second straight year, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has gone to Minnesota to find a coordinator.

Kirk Ciarrocca was named the Scarlet Knights' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Saturday, which is the same position he held last season with the Golden Gophers.

A year ago, Rutgers tapped Joe Harasymiak to be their defensive coordinator after he had spent four seasons on the Minnesota staff as co-defensive coordinator.

Ciarrocca is returning to Rutgers to work for head coach Greg Schiano a second time. He was on the staff for three seasons from 2008-10, winning two bowl games.

Ciarrocca has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 19 as an offensive coordinator. He has been in the Big Ten five of the last six years, most recently helping Minnesota to a nine-win season and a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl.

“He is a proven leader of men, an excellent football coach and understands what it takes to be successful in the Big Ten,” said Schiano, who fired offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson during the 2022 4-8 season.

During his first stint at Rutgers, Ciarrocca took over as offensive coordinator in 2009 and developed quarterback Tom Savage, offensive lineman Anthony Davis (first round NFL) and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (third round).

Ciarrocca has also coached at West Virginia, Penn State, Western Michigan, Richmond, Delaware (where he worked with Joe Flacco), Temple, Western Connecticut State, Delaware Valley College, Princeton and Penn.

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