Get to Know Coach Joe Moorhead, Offensive Coordinator
It was not too long ago that disgruntled mumbles about former Offensive Coordinator John Donovan could be heard throughout the stands at Beaver Stadium. Fans and students were griping about the misaligned plays, clueless play calling, and lack of passion displayed by the Penn State offense.
This season, almost magically, all of those murmurs have gone silent. So what’s the secret?
The secret is newly appointed Offensive Coordinator Joe Moorhead (@BallCoachJoeMo).
Moorhead has done a phenomenal job thus far this season, instilling a drive and determination into Penn State’s offense that has been lacking for a considerable amount of time. The plays are smart, efficient, and while they could still use some work, are showing incredible promise for growth and success.
However, despite this success, few people know much about the humble man who is now an integral part of Penn State’s weekly success.
Moorhead was a three-year starting quarterback and senior captain for the Fordham Rams’ football team and was a second team All-Patriot League selection in 1995. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1996.
This year marks Moorhead’s 19th year of collegiate coaching. Before Penn State, he served as a graduate assistant at Pitt (we’ll let this one slide), and has coached at Georgetown, Akron, and Connecticut, helping to lead the Huskies to a Big East Championship in 2010. Moorhead’s most recent job before PSU was as head coach at Fordham University in the Bronx.
While at Fordham, Moorhead took a 1-10 program to a 38-13 program by the time he left in 2015. In 2013, Moorhead helped Fordham achieve a #5 ranking in the Patriot League, the highest the school had ever been.
2013 and 2014 showed Moorhead’s growth as a coach as he led the Fordham Rams to a 12-2 record in 2013 and a 6-0 conference win (11-3 overall) in 2014, the first time since 2007 the Rams’ had been able to clinch a conference title.
Due to his tremendous efforts, Moorhead was awarded the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2013.
Lastly, in 2015, Moorhead guided the Rams to a 9-3, 5-1 record and a second place standing in the Patriot League before getting the call from Penn State Head Coach James Franklin to convert to a Nittany Lion.
Moorhead’s no-nonsense, salt of the earth mindset has so far guided Penn State’s offense to some epic plays and even more inspiring wins. With Ohio State coming up next Saturday, fans and students alike know that we will need the magic of Coach Moorhead more than ever.
This season, almost magically, all of those murmurs have gone silent. So what’s the secret?
The secret is newly appointed Offensive Coordinator Joe Moorhead (@BallCoachJoeMo).
Moorhead has done a phenomenal job thus far this season, instilling a drive and determination into Penn State’s offense that has been lacking for a considerable amount of time. The plays are smart, efficient, and while they could still use some work, are showing incredible promise for growth and success.
However, despite this success, few people know much about the humble man who is now an integral part of Penn State’s weekly success.
Moorhead was a three-year starting quarterback and senior captain for the Fordham Rams’ football team and was a second team All-Patriot League selection in 1995. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1996.
This year marks Moorhead’s 19th year of collegiate coaching. Before Penn State, he served as a graduate assistant at Pitt (we’ll let this one slide), and has coached at Georgetown, Akron, and Connecticut, helping to lead the Huskies to a Big East Championship in 2010. Moorhead’s most recent job before PSU was as head coach at Fordham University in the Bronx.
While at Fordham, Moorhead took a 1-10 program to a 38-13 program by the time he left in 2015. In 2013, Moorhead helped Fordham achieve a #5 ranking in the Patriot League, the highest the school had ever been.
2013 and 2014 showed Moorhead’s growth as a coach as he led the Fordham Rams to a 12-2 record in 2013 and a 6-0 conference win (11-3 overall) in 2014, the first time since 2007 the Rams’ had been able to clinch a conference title.
Due to his tremendous efforts, Moorhead was awarded the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2013.
Lastly, in 2015, Moorhead guided the Rams to a 9-3, 5-1 record and a second place standing in the Patriot League before getting the call from Penn State Head Coach James Franklin to convert to a Nittany Lion.
Moorhead’s no-nonsense, salt of the earth mindset has so far guided Penn State’s offense to some epic plays and even more inspiring wins. With Ohio State coming up next Saturday, fans and students alike know that we will need the magic of Coach Moorhead more than ever.
