Kirk Ciarrocca Named Offensive Coordinator

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano has named Kirk Ciarrocca offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ciarrocca, who has over 30 years of coaching experience (19 as an offensive coordinator), returns to Piscataway after serving on Schiano’s staff for three seasons and winning two bowl games from 2008-10. He has previously been selected as a semifinalist for the Broyles Award and coached 26 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round).

“It is great to welcome back Kirk and his family to Rutgers,” Schiano said. “He is a proven leader of men, an excellent football coach and understands what it takes to be successful in the Big Ten. We look forward to getting to work.”

“I want to thank Coach Schiano and Rutgers for giving me the opportunity to return to a place with many great memories,” Ciarrocca said. “Coach is building something special here and I want to be a part of that. I can’t wait to get on the practice field with the players.”

Ciarrocca first arrived at Rutgers as wide receivers coach in 2008 in a room that included eventual first-round pick Kenny Britt. The wide receiver had eight 100-yard receiving games to set the program record with 1,371 receiving yards in a season, helping the Scarlet Knights to a victory over NC State in the PapaJohns.com Bowl. He would earn All-America honors.

Then in 2009, Ciarrocca was promoted by Schiano to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He helped guide quarterback Tom Savage to Freshman All-America status after setting the Big East record for most passing yards by a true freshman in a season. The Scarlet Knights went 9-4 and defeated UCF in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Others to be drafted in the NFL after being coached by Ciarrocca at RU include offensive lineman Anthony Davis (first round) and wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (third round).

Ciarrocca has been in the Big Ten five of the last six years, most recently helping Minnesota to a nine-win season and a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl in 2022. The Golden Gophers had two from the offense earn All-America status in center John Michael Schmitz (first team), a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, and running back Mohamed Ibrahim (second team). All five linemen plus Ibrahim, who led the nation with 20 rushing touchdowns, and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford earned All-Big Ten honors.

The unit ranked third nationally and first in the Big Ten in both third down conversion percentage (52.1) and time of possession…