On Sunday, a report from Brett McMurphy of Stadium tabbed Minnesota Golden Gophers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca as a potential candidate to replace Tim Beck in the same role for the Texas Longhorns. However, on Thursday morning news broke from Minneapolis that Ciarrocca will become the next offensive coordinator for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Ciarrocca was under consideration from Texas head coach Tom Herman after coaching a top-10 offensive in SP+ at Minnesota in 2019, helping the Golden Gophers to the program’s first 10-win season since 1905. Quarterback Tanner Morgan set program records for passing yards, season touchdown passes and consecutive games with a touchdown pass under Ciarrocca’s tutelage while throwing to Big Ten Receiver of the Year Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson, who both went over 1,000 receiving yards on the season.