Report: Kirk Ciarrocca leaving Gophers for Big Ten rival again
Kirk Ciarrocca is reportedly on his way out of Minnesota for a second time as ESPN's Pete Thamel says the Gophers' offensive coordinator is expected to take the same job at Rutgers.
"Rutgers is targeting Minnesota's Kirk Ciarrocca to be the school's new offensive coordinator. The deal is not complete, but is expected to happen in upcoming days," Thamel reported Thursday evening.
Sources: Rutgers is targeting Minnesota's Kirk Ciarrocca to be the school's new offensive coordinator. The deal is not complete, but is expected to happen in upcoming days. Rutgers expected to make a substantial commitment to bring in former offensive coordinator.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 5, 2023
If it happens, it'll be the second time Ciarrocca has left head coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers since Fleck was hired in 2017. Ciarrocca arrived at Minnesota with Fleck in '17 and was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach until taking the same job at Penn State following Minnesota's 11 wins in 2019.
He lasted just one season at Penn State and returned to Minnesota this past season.
Ciarrocca has a history, as does Fleck, with Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. Ciarrocca was the co-offensive coordinator at Rutgers under Schiano from 2008-10. Fleck was the wide receivers coach under Schiano in 2010 and 2011.
If Ciarrocca leaves, he'll be the second primary coordinator on Fleck's staff to relocate to a Big Ten rival. Paul Haynes, who worked as co-defensive coordinator with Joe Rossi this season, has been hired at Wisconsin to be the cornerbacks coach.
Defensive line coach Brick Haley is also leaving the Gophers for the same job at Purdue. The Gophers have already reportedly replaced him with former Gophers defensive lineman Winston DeLattiboudere, who was the D-line coach at Akron this past season.
Fleck confirmed the Haynes news today in an interview with Jim Rome.
"Our job is to help these guys grow and become head coaches and become coordinators. That's my job as a head football coach," said Fleck. "I want them to be able to explore other opportunities. Does it stink that it's a rival? Sure. But if it's a better opportunity for him that gets him where he wants to be then good. And I'm going to support those guys 100%."
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