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Northwestern reportedly adding former B1G coordinator as analyst
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Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is reportedly “in the process” of adding former Rutgers offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson to his staff as a senior offensive analyst.
FootballScoop’s John Brice reported the news on Thursday. Gleeson was the highest-paid assistant on Greg Schiano’s Rutgers staff last fall before being fired mid-season. Before that, Gleeson was the offensive coordinator at Princeton from 2017-18 and then spent a year in the same position at Oklahoma State.
Though just an analyst, Gleeson’s arrival on Fitzgerald’s staff could provide a boost. He’s a talented offensive mind and, at the time of his hire at Rutgers in 2020, was viewed as one of the up-and-coming OCs in the game.
In 2018, Gleeson coordinated an offense that set an Ivy League record with 470 points, reaching 40 points in 8 of its 10 games. Princeton ranked second in the FCS in scoring and third in total offense that year.
At Oklahoma State the following year, the Cowboys ranked 20th nationally in offensive efficiency and 13th nationally in yards per rushing attempt — bolstered by a ground game that saw Chuba Hubbard run for an FBS-leading 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Fitzgerald is entering a critical year with the Wildcats in 2023. Northwestern broke its recent trend of strong seasons following dismal seasons by going 1-11 on the heels of a 3-9 campaign. The Wildcats lost 11 straight after opening the year with a stunning win over Nebraska in Ireland.
The offense was a mess, ranking 128th in scoring. Over the last 8 weeks of the season, Northwestern managed more than 7 points in a game only 3 times.
We’ll see how much help Gleeson can provide.
The Scarlet Knights will host the Wildcats on Sunday, September 3, to open the 2023 season.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.