Reports: Penn State OC Joe Moorhead was Purdue's backup plan
Purdue got its guy. Jeff Brohm proved to be one of the top candidates on the coaching market, and the Boilermakers stepped up their offer to get him to come to West Lafayette.
But apparently Purdue had a B1G contingency plan in place if Brohm turned down the Boilermakers.
According to Football Scoop and the Fort Wayne News Sentinel’s Pete DiPrimio, Purdue was after Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead.
Purdue officials did interview Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead in Indy in case Brohm turned them down. Another big offense guy
— Pete DiPrimio (@pdiprimio) December 5, 2016
Moorhead was of course in Indianapolis for the B1G Championship. His stock only rose with that incredible comeback Penn State pulled off to beat Wisconsin.
It isn’t known whether or not Moorhead would’ve accepted an offer or if an official offer was even made.
In his first year in State College, Moorhead completely revamped an offense that lost an NFL quarterback and multiple key skill players. His offense fueled Penn State’s nine-game winning streak to end the season. Trace McSorley set Penn State’s single-season yardage record under Moorhead’s tutelage.
Penn State likely isn’t done surviving job interview rumors with Moorhead. With other head coaching jobs opening up, Moorhead could be a candidate at a variety of places.
If anything, Moorhead appears to have earned himself a raise for 2017.