Penn State football has confirmed the firing of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.
The news was first reported Sunday afternoon by Jon Sauber of the Centre Daily Times and has since been confirmed by other outlets.
Sources: Penn State has fired offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.https://t.co/8fy7B5UH3O
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) November 12, 2023
It didn’t take long for Penn State to make it official.
Yurcich was two games away from finishing his third regular season as Penn State’s OC. Although his tenure had highlights, such as finishing 11-2 and winning the Rose Bowl last season and scoring 30 or more points in 13 straight games, which was the nation’s longest active streak, ultimately, Penn State didn’t get much going on offense in its two biggest regular-season games: against Ohio State (12 points) and Michigan (15 points).
The statement that confirmed Yurcich’s firing also said that assistant OCs Ja’Juan Seider and Ty Howle would share play calling duties for the remainder of the 2023 season. Seider, the running backs coach, has been James Franklin’s staff since the 2018 season. Howle, the tight ends coach, who played at Penn Dtate as an offensive lineman in the early 2010s, has been on staff since 2020.
Franklin issued a brief statement on the transaction.
“We thank Mike for his contributions over the last three years but feel it is in our program’s best interest to make a change at this time. We wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future,” Franklin said.
Penn State will be a solid favorite in each of its last two regular season games. The team hosts Rutgers at home Saturday and then ends the season at Michigan State on Black Friday, Nov. 24. Penn State hasn’t lost to either team since Michigan State got a win in Beaver Stadium in 2018.
