Akron hires Oregon offensive coordinator Moorhead as coach

Updated Dec. 4, 2021 11:02 a.m. ET

Associated Press

AKRON (AP) — Akron hired Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead as head coach on Saturday, bringing back a former assistant for the Zips to take over a struggling program.

Moorhead has been a head coach at Mississippi State (14-12 in two seasons) and FCS Fordham (38-13 in four seasons) and has been directing the Ducks’ offense the last two seasons.

No. 10 Oregon's promising season came to disappointing end Friday night when the Ducks (10-3) were

Moorhead spent two seasons as Penn State’s offensive coordinator in between his head coaching jobs at his alma mater, Fordham, and Mississippi State.

Akron is 3-29 over the last three seasons.

New athletic director Charles Guthrie fired coach Tom Arth nine games into this season and news of the school’s interest in Moorhead leaked more than a week ago.

Moorhead, a Pittsburgh native, was an assistant at Akron from 2004-08.

Before Arth, Akron had a solid run in the Mid-American Conference under Terry Bowden, making three bowl games over seven seasons.

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