STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin wanted his new offensive coordinator in place sooner rather than later.
Saturday, the Penn State head coach got his man.
Fordham University head coach Joe Moorhead was named the Nittany Lions’ offensive coordinator, replacing John Donovan, who was fired Nov. 29.
Moorhead, a Pittsburgh native, has 18 years of collegiate coaching experience, including the last four in charge at Fordham, where he compiled a 38-13 record with three consecutive berths in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and the Patriot League title in 2014.
“We are very excited to have Joe join our Penn State football family,” Franklin said in a press release. “He has distinguished himself as a head coach who made a dramatic impact at Fordham University. His approach and vision offensively is very similar to ours: hard-nosed, blue collar and explosive.”
While Moorhead will join the team immediately, Penn State quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne is handling the duties of offensive coordinator as the Nittany Lions prepare to play Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.
Penn State conducted “an exhaustive search of many candidates,” Franklin said, and Moorhead’s name kept coming out on top.
“Joe’s makeup as a person and leader is outstanding,” Franklin said. “He is originally from Pittsburgh and has strong relationships throughout Pennsylvania and the region. He brings invaluable perspective to our staff as a former head coach. Most importantly his offensive production as a coordinator and head coach speaks for itself.”
He will have his work cut out for him, though. The Nittany Lions ranked 108th among 127 teams in the nation in total offense during the regular season. In 2014, Donovan’s first season as offensive coordinator at Penn State, the Nittany Lions ranked 105th.
Moorhead said he is excited to be “coming home.”
“It is an unbelievable opportunity to help contribute to a program with a rich tradition and promising future,” Moorhead said. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work.”
Under Moorhead, the Rams were consistently one of the top offensive teams in FCS. This season, Fordham is second in team passing efficiency (168.30), ninth in scoring offense (36.8), 19th in total offense (453.3), 20th in passing offense (272.3) and 17th in third down conversion (.456).
The Rams posted a 9-3 record with a victory over FBS foe Army. Fordham made its third consecutive postseason appearance, falling to Chattanooga in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
In 2014, Moorhead led the Rams to their first Patriot League title since 2007 and an 11-3 overall record.
In 2013, the Rams were 12-2, which included the program’s first win over an FBS opponent (Temple) and the school’s first two wins over top 10 opponents (Villanova, Lehigh). He was named the 2013 AFCA Regional Co-Coach of the Year and Patriot League Coach of the Year.
Before returning to take the helm at his alma mater, Moorhead spent three seasons at Connecticut, including two as offensive coordinator.
Prior to that, he was at Akron for five seasons, serving as offensive coordinator for three seasons. Additionally, Moorhead spent four seasons at Georgetown where he served as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and running backs coach.
Moorhead was a three-year starting quarterback at Fordham, where he earned a second-team All-Patriot League selection (1995). He held the school records for completions and passing yards at the time of his graduation.
The Pittsburgh Central Catholic graduate earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Fordham in 1996. He and his wife, Jennifer, have a daughter, Kyra (14), and two sons, Mason (12) and Donovan (7).