Navy Football Hires Mercer Head Coach Drew Cronic As Offensive Coordinator

After firing Grant Chesnut in December, the Navy Midshipmen have their next offensive coordinator. Mercer University announced on Tuesday afternoon that head

© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

After firing Grant Chesnut in December, the Navy Midshipmen have their next offensive coordinator.

Mercer University announced on Tuesday afternoon that head football coach Drew Cronic had resigned his position and would assume the open OC role in Annapolis. 

Cronic joins Brian Newberry's staff after leading Mercer to the program's first trip to the FCS playoffs in 2023. He won 28 games in four seasons in Macon. The Bears scored 27.4 points per game and 323.3 yards per game in 2023. They ranked fifth in the nine-team SoCon on both accounts. 

Prior to Mercer, Cronic spent the previous two seasons as the head coach of Division II Lenoir-Rhyne University. From 1995 to 1997, Cronic played wide receiver at Georgia. He also had a successful stint in NAIA as head coach of Reinhardt University and has assistant experience at West Georgia, Furman, and James Madison.

Navy finished the 2023 season with a 5-7 overall record and a 4-4 record in the AAC. The Midshipmen averaged 17.7 points per game, just 0.4 points more than the league-worst East Carolina Pirates. Navy were also second-worst in the league in total offense with 300.3 yards per game. Navy reached the red zone a league-worst 29 times, scoring points on just 20 trips, with 14 touchdowns.

Navy formally announced the hire on Wednesday. 

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Drew and his family to Navy,” said Newberry. “Coach Cronic is an outstanding person and one of the most well respected, creative and innovative coaches in the business. He’s had great success as an offensive coordinator and as a head coach everywhere he’s been. He cares deeply about his players and has had a significant impact on the lives of the young men he’s coached. I am thrilled to have him on our staff and to lead our offensive unit.”

Mercer is scheduled to meet with the media on Thursday afternoon.