Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State fires offensive coordinator Donovan

Published Nov. 29, 2015 2:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Penn State has fired offensive coordinator John Donovan and will begin a national search to find his replacement, the athletic department announced Sunday.

The move comes after Penn State suffered its worst loss of coach James Franklin's tenure, routed 55-16 by No. 5 Michigan State on Saturday.

A five-year veteran of Franklin's staffs at Penn State and Vanderbilt, Donovan was heavily criticized for leading a wildly inconsistent attack. He also coached tight ends.

Penn State ranks 108th in total offense and 101st in scoring offense nationally this year. That's little progress, considering the Nittany Lions were 114th in total offense and 113th in scoring offense last season.

Pass protection has been a problem, with quarterback Christian Hackenberg getting sacked 82 times.

The offensive staff also struggled to get plays down from the booth in adequate time. Penn State had to burn multiple timeouts against the Spartans and last week against Michigan.