New Day hire: Mike Yurcich goes from one OSU to another

January 3, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day has named Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich as the Buckeyes passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Yurcich will receive a two-year contract worth 950,000 annually.

Yurcich, 43, is officially the second coach hired by Day to be on his Ohio State staff. Wide receiver coach Brian Hartline was promoted to permanent status in December after coaching the 2018 Buckeye receivers to a record-breaking campaign as a group in 2018.

Yurcich, who is originally from Euclid, has spent 20 years coaching at the collegiate level within a variety of divisions. His Oklahoma State tenure, six seasons between 2013 and 2018, is most impressive and includes two nominations for the Broyles Award as the nation’s outstanding assistant coach.

Oklahoma State experienced one of its great offensive eras under Yurcich, with the program averaging 38.0 points and 478.3 yards throughout his six-year run. The Cowboys scored 40 or more points 35 times (in 76 games) and 50 or more points 15 times.

Oklahoma State produced four of the school’s top 10 seasons in total offense under Yurcich. As a result: the Cowboys were 52-24 during this time with four 10-win seasons and four bowl game victories. Twice the Cowboys appeared in a New Year’s Six game: the 2016 Sugar Bowl and the 2014 Cotton Bowl.

Entering the 2018 bowl season, Oklahoma State’s offense ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring, total offense, passing offense and first downs. The Cowboys also ranked second in the Big 12 in rushing offense, rushing touchdowns and yards per carry. Leading the way was walk-on quarterback Taylor Cornelius, who Yurcich developed into a top-10 ranked player nationally in passing yards, touchdowns, total offense and points responsible for.

Yurcich is a 1999 graduate of California University in Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Julie, who is from Youngstown, and was an All-America cross country runner at Edinboro, have three children: sons Jack and Clay, and a daughter, Maria.

Houston hires Holgorsen away from rebuilding West Virginia

Houston hired West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen as its coach Wednesday, ending his eight-year run with the Mountaineers.

Holgorsen was 61-41 and 33-30 in the Big 12 as he helped guide West Virginia through the transition from the Big East. Houston competes in the American Athletic Conference, which was formed from the remnants of Big East football after it was torn apart by realignment earlier this decade.

Holgorsen spent two seasons as Houston’s offensive coordinator in 2008-09, when it was in Conference USA, before serving a season in the same position under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State in 2010.

Houston fired coach Major Applewhite on Sunday after two underwhelming seasons. Applewhite, who took a school-friendly deal in 2016 to replace Tom Herman, went 15-11.

Michigan CB Long entering draft, skipping senior year

ANN ARBOR, Mich.

Michigan cornerback David Long is entering the NFL draft and skipping his senior season.

Long made the announcement Wednesday on social media .

The eighth-ranked Wolverines were without defensive end Rashan Gary and linebacker Devin Bush in their 41-15 loss to No. 10 Florida in the Peach Bowl after both juniors declared themselves eligible for the draft. Long chose to play in the bowl while weighing his options to stay or go pro.

Oklahoma WR Brown to declare for NFL draft

NORMAN, Okla.

Oklahoma receiver Marquise Brown will skip his senior season and declare himself eligible for the NFL Draft.

Brown made the announcement Wednesday on social media.

Brown, whose cousin is Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown, is nicknamed “Hollywood” for his flashy play and the name of his hometown, Hollywood, Florida. In two seasons, he caught 132 passes for 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns. He leaves sixth in school history in career yards receiving. This season, he joined Ryan Broyles as the only Oklahoma receivers to gain more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season more than once.

Florida LB Joseph leaving early to enter NFL draft

GAINESVILLE, Fla.

Florida linebacker Vosean Joseph has decided to leave school early and enter the NFL draft.

The junior announced his decision via social media Wednesday, saying “my Mom and Dad have always told me to go after my dreams.” He adds that he’s developed “as a player but even more so as a person” during his three years at Florida.

Joseph led the Gators (10-3) with 93 tackles this season, including a goal-line stop on fourth down against Michigan in the Peach Bowl. Nine of his tackles were for a loss.

Associated Press