COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Ciarrocca was named Penn State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Dec. 26, 2019.
- He spent the last three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Minnesota.
- In 2019, the Golden Gophers posted a 10-win regular season for the first time since 1905, thanks in part to the third-highest scoring offense in program history and the second-most passing yards in a season by the Gophers.
- Ciarrocca was selected as a semifinalist for the 2019 Broyles Award for the nation’s top assistant coach.
- Minnesota’s offense in 2019 was sixth in yards per completion (15.5) and passing efficiency (177.99), eighth in third down conversion percentage (.484) and 16th in completion percentage (.656).
- The Gophers recorded a 15-plus yard play on 26 percent of their pass plays, sixth best among FBS teams.
- Golden Gopher quarterback Tanner Morgan set program records for season passing yards, season touchdown passes and consecutive games with a touchdown pass on the way to second-team All-Big Ten accolades in 2019.
- The Gophers also touted a pair of 1,000-yard wide receivers in All-American and Big Ten Receiver of the Year Rashod Bateman and All-Big Ten first team honoree Tyler Johnson.
- Morgan was a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation’s top quarterback, while Bateman was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver in the country.
- Prior to his time at Minnesota, Ciarrocca was the offensive coordinator at Western Michigan for four seasons.
- In his time with the Broncos, Ciarrocca’s offense set records for points, total yards and touchdowns in 2015, only to break those same records again in 2016.
- The Broncos finished ninth in FBS in points per game (41.57) as they won the MAC and earned a spot in the Cotton Bowl Classic with a 13-1 record in 2016.
- Ciarrocca coached the 2016 MAC Offensive Player of the Year and NCAA Consensus All-American in wide receiver Corey Davis, as well as 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy winner in quarterback Zach Terrell.
- Before moving to Western Michigan, Ciarrocca had stints at Delaware (2012 – running backs), Richmond (2011 – quarterbacks) and Rutgers (2008-10 – co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks).
- In a six-year stop as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Delaware from 2002-07, Ciarrocca helped guide the Blue Hens to the National Championship in 2003 and mentored Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco.
- In addition, the 2007 Blue Hen offense ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring, total offense, passing offense, third down conversion and red zone offense.
- He had a pair of quarterbacks drafted into the NFL during his first stint with the Blue Hens.
- Ciarrocca also had stops at Penn (2000-01 – wide receivers), Princeton (1996-99 – wide receivers), Western Connecticut State (1994-95 – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/wide receivers; 1992 – passing game coordinator/wide receivers), Delaware Valley College (passing game coordinator/wide receivers) and Temple (1990-91 – graduate assistant).
- During his time at Penn, the Quakers won the 2000 Ivy League championship.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PLAYER
- A native of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, Ciarrocca was a defensive back at Juniata College in Pennsylvania before moving on to Temple where he graduated in 1990.
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
- Tyler Johnson (Minnesota) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2020 NFL Draft fifth-round pick
- Chukwuma Okorafor (Western Michigan) - Pittsburgh Steelers; 2018 NFL Draft third-round pick
- Corey Davis (Western Michigan) - Tennessee Titans; 2017 NFL Draft first-round pick
- Taylor Morton (Western Michigan) - Carolina Panthers; 2017 NFL Draft second-round pick
- Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers) - New England Patriots; 2012 NFL Draft third-round pick
- Tim Wright (Rutgers) - NFL (2013-18); Super Bowl XLIX Champion
- Anthony Davis (Rutgers) - NFL (2010-16); 2012 NFL Draft first-round pick
- Kenny Britt (Rutgers) - NFL (2009-17); 2009 NFL Draft first-round pick
- Mike Teel (Rutgers) - NFL (2009-10); 2009 NFL Draft sixth-round pick
- Tiquan Underwood (Rutgers) - NFL (2009-14); 2009 NFL Draft seventh-round pick
- Joe Flacco (Delaware) - NFL (2008-19); 2008 NFL Draft first-round pick; Super Bowl XLVII MVP
- Andy Hall (Delaware) - NFL (2004-05); 2004 NFL Draft sixth-round pick
THE CIARROCCA FILE
Personal
Year at Penn State: First
Hometown: Lewisberry, Pa.
Education: Temple University, 1990 - B.S. Sports Administration
Family: Wife: Kim; Daughter: Colby; Son: Cade
Coaching Career
2020-pres. – Penn State (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2017-19 – Minnesota (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2013-16 – Western Michigan (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2012 – Delaware (Running Backs)
2011 – Richmond (Quarterbacks)
2008-10 – Rutgers (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2002-07 – Delaware (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2000-01 – Penn (Wide Receivers)
1996-99 – Princeton (Wide Receivers)
1994-95 – Western Connecticut State (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers)
1993 – Delaware Valley College (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
1992 – Western Connecticut State (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
1990-91 – Temple (Graduate Assistant)
Bowl/Playoff Games as a Coach
- 2019 Outback Bowl – Minnesota
- 2018 Quick Lane Bowl – Minnesota
- 2017 Cotton Bowl – Western Michigan
- 2015 Bahamas Bowl – Western Michigan
- 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – Western Michigan
- 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl – Rutgers
- 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl – Rutgers
- 2007 FCS First, Quarterfinal Semifinal, Championship (Runner-Up) – Delaware
- 2004 FCS First, Quarterfinal – Delaware
- 2002 FCS First, Quarterfinal Semifinal, Championship (Winner) – Delaware