Zordich is back with Eagles

The former Chaney and Penn State player returns as a coach.

By JOHN BASSETTI

Vindicator sports staff

Mike Zordich is back where he finished his NFL career — Philadelphia.

This time, it’s as a coach for the Eagles and coach Andy Reid.

Zordich started his new position at the beginning of June.

The former Penn State All-American safety who later played with four NFL teams from 1986-1998, was hired as a coaching intern to work with defensive backs.

Most recently Zordich was safeties coach at YSU, a position he held since February. He coached throughout spring drills and the annual Red-White spring game.

Since leaving the NFL as a player, Zordich, a Chaney High graduate, ran a business and coached at Cardinal Mooney.

YSU coach Jon Heacock said that Zordich’s opportunity to elevate himself is part of coaching.

“In our world, it happens,” Heacock said. “When coaching at different levels, guys come and go. Losing coaches is one part of the business and finding coaches is the other part.”

The move leaves YSU hanging, but Heacock said that the search for a replacement is in effect.

“We’re in the interview process now,” Heacock said. “We’ll find good people, we always have. YSU has the ability to attract good people, but we’d better do it relatively quick because we’re not too far away from getting to camp.”

At YSU, Zordich held the title of safeties coach.

Heacock isn’t sure whether Zordich’s replacement will have the same designation and job title, thereby leaving room for shuffling of staff duties.

“We’ll hire the best person at this time and take into consideration recruiting,” Heacock said, adding that, because he also coaches defense, there are different directions the staff can go.

“We’re hiring the best person we can. That will fit all the things we’re looking for. We want to find people who care about what we’re doing here in Youngstown and we’ll kind of sort through the rest.”

Zordich was hired after Jeff Mills got a job at the University of Washington in Seattle. Mills was defensive coordinator and also coached the safeties and defensive backs.

Also in the last six months, YSU’s defensive line coach Antoine Smith left for a job at Miami (Ohio).

bassetti@vindy.com