Penn State hires Fordham coach Moorhead as offensive coordinator

Published Dec. 12, 2015 3:41 p.m. ET

Bruce Feldman

Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead has been named Penn State's new offensive coordinator.

A source had told FOX Sports earlier Saturday that the hire was expected to happen.

The 42-year-old Moorhead's Rams ranked No. 19 in the nation in total offense this season. They are No. 9 in FCS in scoring at 37 points per game. He was 38-13 with the Rams.

Moorhead replaces John Donovan who was fired following Penn State's loss in the regular season finale against No. 3 Michigan State.

"He has distinguished himself as a head coach who made a dramatic impact at Fordham University," Penn State coach James Franklin said in an athletic department release Saturday. "His approach and vision offensively is very similar to ours: hard-nosed, blue collar and explosive."

The Nittany Lions' offense ranked 106th and 114th nationally each of the last two seasons under Donovan while giving up 83 sacks and managing just 117 rushing yards per game.

Moorhead led his alma mater out of FCS obscurity to three consecutive playoff berths after inheriting a team that finished 1-10 in 2011. He led the Rams to a 12-2 finish in 2013 and a Patriot League championship in 2014. As a quarterback in the '90s, he set single-season school records for completions and passing yards.

"My family and I are thrilled to be coming home," Moorhead, a Pittsburgh native, said in a release. "It is an unbelievable opportunity to help contribute to a program with a rich tradition and promising future. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work."

Moorhead is not expected to game plan or coach when Penn State plays Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2. Quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne will handle offensive coordinator duties while Moorhead will serve as more of a consultant, Franklin said.

Before Fordham, Moorhead coached at Connecticut, Akron and Georgetown coaching offenses and calling plays for each team. Franklin insisted he wanted to find a coordinator with a demonstrated history of success calling plays.

"His name kept rising to the top," Franklin said in the release. "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."

Bruce Feldman is a senior college football reporter and columnist for FOXSports.com and FS1. He is also a New York Times best-selling author. His new book, “The QB: The Making of Modern Quarterbacks,” came out in October 2014. Follow him on Twitter @BruceFeldmanCFB and Facebook.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.