James Franklin has found his new offensive coordinator.
According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Penn State has hired Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki for the same position. Kotelnicki also served as associate head coach.
The hiring comes nearly three weeks after Penn State fired offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich following lackluster performances against Michigan and Ohio State.
Kotelnicki joined Kansas in 2021. He turned an offense that ranked No. 104 in the nation into a top-10 unit the past two seasons. Feldman noted how Kansas ranked No. 6 in offense during the 2022 campaign and No. 8 this year, averaging 33.6 points per game and 434 yards of offense.
The Jayhawks converted at a 48% clip on 3rd down, 13th in the country. 2023 was Kotelnicki’s first season as associate head coach and was rumored to have received looks around the NCAA to be an offensive coordinator elsewhere the year before. Kansas averaged a balanced 228 yards passing and 211 yards rushing this season.
Before arriving in Lawrence, Kotelnicki was the offensive coordinator at Buffalo (2015-2021) and Wisconsin-Whitewater (2013-2014)
In 2022, Kansas ranked fourth in passing efficiency (164.26) and eight in third-down percentage (50.6%). The Jayhawks recorded 603 yards in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl last year, a new program bowl record.
Penn State finished No. 4 in red zone offense (95.1%), while Kansas ranked No. 46 (87%).
The hire piqued significant interest from former UCONN QB and current NFL on ESPN analyst Dan Orlosky.
This is a fantastic hire for @PennStateFball at OC to get Andy Kotelnicki
Super creative + open box mindset play designer and play caller 👏👏
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) November 30, 2023
Sophomore quarterback Drew Allar and running back Nicolas Singleton have both stated they will return to Penn State for their junior campaigns. The Nittany Lions averaged 37.2 points per game but only mustered 12 and 15 points against Ohio State and Michigan, respectively. 12 of the combined 27 points came when the game was out of reach.
Assistant head coach/running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider and tight ends coach Ty Howle split offensive coordinator duties in the final two games following Yurcich’s dismissal. Penn State finished 10-2 overall for the second-consecutive season and awaits a potential New Year’s Six bowl game. The College Football Playoff and bowl schedule will be announced Sunday.
