Sportsline with Tony Caridi  Watch |  Listen

Neal Brown interested in Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Minnesota offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Ciarrocca has been contacted in regards to a position on Neal Brown’s coaching staff, a West Virginia team source confirmed. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Ciarrocca has yet to make a decision on whether he will make the move.

Ciarrocca and Brown worked together at Delaware in 2005. Ciarrocca was actually Brown’s superior at that stop, serving as the Blue Hens offensive coordinator while Brown coached the wide receivers.

The move would be somewhat of a coup for Brown considering that Ciarrocca has served as P.J. Fleck’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2013. Ciarrocca made $710,000 this year. Outgoing West Virginia offensive coordinator Jake Spavital was paid $501,000 a year.

Ciarrocca followed Fleck from Western Michigan to Minnesota prior to the 2017 season. The Golden Gophers were eighth in the Big Ten in scoring this season after finishing 12th the previous year. They also moved up from 12th to ninth in total offense, improving by an average of 70 yards per game.

Ciarrocca’s 2016 offense at Western Michigan ranked ninth nationally in scoring and 16th in yards per play.

Brown called his own offense at Troy, but Ciarrocca fulfilled those duties for Fleck.

Even before Dana Holgorsen left for Houston, West Virginia was in the market for a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator when Spavital was hired to be Texas State’s new head coach in December.

Ciarrocca would also fill a need on Brown’s staff for an assistant coach with East Coast recruiting connections. He is a native of York County, Pa. who has coached at Temple, Penn, Princeton and Rutgers in addition to Delaware.

Brown will be formally introduced as West Virginia’s 35th head coach on Thursday morning following this week’s American Football Coaches Association convention in Texas.





More Sports

Sports
Tucker DeVries prepares to shoulder challenges awaiting in Big 12
A two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, Tucker DeVries will spend his senior season at West Virginia. As he gets acclimated to a new program, DeVries' focus is on improving the health in his right shoulder after undergoing surgery on it Tuesday.
March 28, 2024 - 4:54 pm
Sports
Darian DeVries welcomed as West Virginia men's basketball coach
DeVries eager for what's to come in what marks second head coaching gig.
March 28, 2024 - 2:57 pm
Marshall Sports
Integrating new players, coaches a focus for Herd at start of spring practice
Head coach Charles Huff says learning who his team is a critical component of spring football.
March 28, 2024 - 8:47 am
High School Sports
Class AAA Boys Basketball All-State List
State champion Shady Spring lands two on first team, including captain Ammar Maxwell.
March 28, 2024 - 8:42 am