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Report: Lions hire new OC out of Kansas

College football

By From Mirror reports 2 min read
Andy Kotelnicki

Penn State's search for a new offensive coordinator is over.

Multiple outlets reported Thursday that Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki has been hired to succeed Mike Yurcich, who was fired on Nov. 12.

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic first reported the news.

Penn State has not yet confirmed the hiring.

Kotelnicki, 43, served as offensive coordinator for the last 11 seasons under Lance Leipold at three different stops -- Wisconsin-Whitewater (2013-14), Buffalo (2015-20) and Kansas for the past three seasons.

Kotelnicki was part of a pair of Division III national titles with Leipold at Wisconsin-Whitewater, which averaged 40.1 points per game in 2014.

Buffalo set school offensive records during their time there. The Bulls lost at Penn State 27-14 in 2015.

James Franklin was not satisfied with the Lions' lack of explosive plays this past season.

Penn State ranked 117th nationally in plays over 20 yards; the Lions had 40. Kansas ranked 23rd with 67 plays of 20-plus yards.

The Jayhawks also averaged 6.8 yards per play, eighth best in the nation. At 5.3 yards per play, PSU ranked 73rd.

Kansas enters the bowl season with an 8-4 record, the Jayhawks' first winning year since 2008.

Leipold awarded Kotelnicki a five-year contract in January of 2023, and his salary was $1 million.

Penn State generally doesn't disclose the salaries of its assistant coaches, but Yurcich was believed to be earning more than $1.5 million.

After Yurcich's dismissal, Franklin appointed assistant coaches Ja'Juan Seider and Ty Howle to share the offensive coordinator duties.

Kotelnicki, a Minnesota native, played center at Wisconsin-River Falls, graduating in 2003.

He also coached at Western Illinois, Wisconsin-River Falls and William & Mary before joining Leipold at Wisconsin-Whitewater and following him to Buffalo and then Kansas.

No. 10 Penn State (10-2) is awaiting its bowl assignment, which will be announced Sunday.

Penn State did announce Thursday evening that the 2024 Blue-White Game will take place on Saturday, April 13. A time will be announced at a later date.

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