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SEC head coach rumored as potential replacement for Chris Ash at Rutgers
By Keith Farner
Published:
Multiple reports suggest Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead will draw interest from the Rutgers coaching search following the dismissal of Chris Ash on Sunday.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and New Jersey Advance Media are each reporting that Moorhead is among several coaches the Scarlet Knights will look at in their search. Others include Buffalo coach Lance Leipold, Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi and Princeton coach Bob Surace, with Greg Schiano, a former Rutgers coach, who recently worked with the New England Patriots and was the Ohio State defensive coordinator, thought to be the prime candidate.
Feldman described Moorhead’s mention as a “wild-card option,” but he is a Pittsburgh native and familiar with the Northeast from his time as Fordham’s coach and Penn State’s offensive coordinator. His familiarity with the Big Ten is also seen as a strength if this were to gain traction, especially in an underdog position within his own division, such as the SEC West.
Ash was fired after an 8-32 record and 3-26 mark in the Big Ten. He came Rutgers four years ago hoping to resurrect a program and coached the program through a two-year NCAA probation.
Rutgers beat UMass to open the season, but suffered losses to Iowa and Michigan by a combined score of 82-0.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
