Mark Whipple Named Offensive Coordinator at Pitt
1/14/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Widely regarded as one of the finest offensive minds in football, Mark Whipple today was named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Pitt by head coach Pat Narduzzi.
In Whipple, Pitt is gaining the services of a coach who owns nearly 40 years of experience and championship rings at both the NFL and collegiate levels. A renowned mentor of quarterbacks, Whipple was Ben Roethlisberger's first positional coach with the Steelers and the pair won a Super Bowl together during the 2005 season. Whipple also won a college national title as head coach at Massachusetts behind a record-setting offense in 1998.
"Mark Whipple is truly one of the best teachers of offensive football in the country—college and pro," Narduzzi said. "His track record working with quarterbacks is simply outstanding and I know that positional group will really grow under his influence. Mark will not only make a huge impact from an offensive standpoint, but his tremendous wealth of experience will benefit our entire program. I really value the fact that we are adding another staff member who has been a head coach. We are thrilled to welcome Coach Whipple and his family back to Pittsburgh."
"I have known and respected Pat Narduzzi for a very long time, so it is an incredibly exciting opportunity to join his coaching staff at Pitt," Whipple said. "He is building something very special at a place that has such a rich and inspiring football tradition. I am really looking forward to meeting our players and hitting the ground running in preparation for spring ball."
Whipple arrives at Pitt after spending the past five seasons (2014-18) as head coach at UMass, his second tour leading the Minutemen's program. Charged with transitioning UMass to the Football Bowl Subdivision, and annually facing a tough array of Power 5 opponents, Whipple's teams featured one of the nation's most potent passing attacks.
The Minutemen finished among the country's top 20 passing teams in three of the past five years. In 2018, they averaged 298.1 passing yards per game to rank 14th nationally. In 2017, they ranked 17th in the nation (297.5) and in 2014 they placed 11th (311.8).
Whipple oversaw the greatest season in UMass history, the 1998 national championship campaign, during which the Minutemen won a school-record 12 games and defeated top-ranked Georgia Southern, 55-43, for the NCAA I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) title. Whipple was subsequently honored as the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I-AA Coach of the Year.
Whipple concluded his Massachusetts tenure as the winningest coach in school history with 65 victories and claimed three Atlantic 10 titles and three NCAA playoff berths.
In addition to his two stints at UMass, he also led the programs at Brown University (1994-97) and University of New Haven (1988-93). Whipple compiled a 136-104 record over 21 total seasons as a college head coach.
At Brown, his alma mater, Whipple revitalized the football program's fortunes while rewriting the offensive record books. In addition to a slew of school marks, the Bears set Ivy League records for total offense (483.6 avg.) and passing yards (334.6) per league game in 1997. Brown never suffered a losing season under Whipple's guidance, winning more games in his four years (23) than the previous eight seasons combined.
At New Haven, Whipple's offenses earned national acclaim. Sports Illustrated lauded his 1993 team as having the "Best Offense in College Football" after averaging 52.5 points and 557.6 yards per game. In 1992, the Chargers led all NCAA divisions in scoring (50.5 avg.) and total offense (587.7). New Haven went a combined 23-2 overall during those two years (20-0 during the regular-season), earning NCAA Division II playoff berths each time. Whipple went 48-17 at New Haven with Top 20 national rankings in five of his six seasons.
Whipple had three coaching appointments in the NFL. His initial stint was as quarterbacks coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher from 2004-06. Under Whipple's mentorship in 2004, Roethlisberger broke Dan Marino's NFL rookie quarterback records for completion percentage (66.4) and passer rating (98.1), and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In 2005, Roethlisberger became the youngest starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Whipple served as the Cleveland Browns' quarterbacks coach under Pat Shurmur in 2011 and 2012. He additionally was an offensive assistant on Andy Reid's Philadelphia staff in 2008, helping the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game. Whipple's first post in professional football came under the legendary George Allen with the USFL's Arizona Wranglers in 1984.
Following his time in Philadelphia, Whipple returned to the college ranks at the University of Miami, where he was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2009 and 2010. In each of those seasons, the Hurricanes eclipsed 5,000 yards in total offense. The 2010 team remains one of the most prolific in school history, amassing 2,388 rushing yards (third all-time) and 5,493 total yards (fifth all-time).
Whipple's other offensive coordinator appointments came at New Hampshire (1986-87) and Union College (1981-82). He was a wide receivers coach at Brown (1983) and earned his first coaching post as an assistant at St. Lawrence University (1980).
A 1979 graduate of Brown with a bachelor's degree in political science, Whipple was a two-sport standout for the Bears. In football, he was a two-year starting quarterback (1977-78), leading the team to a pair of runner-up finishes in the Ivy League. He also was a four-year letterman and starting shortstop for the Brown baseball team. Whipple was inducted into Brown's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
He and his wife, Brenda, have two sons, Spencer and Austin. Spencer is a former walk-on quarterback at Pitt who also worked as a football graduate assistant for the Panthers during the 2012-13 seasons.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: April 1, 1957
Hometown: Tarrytown, N.Y.
Alma Mater: Brown, 1979
Family: Whipple and his wife, Brenda, have two sons, Spencer and Austin.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
COLLEGE
St. Lawrence, 1980, assistant coach.
Union, 1981-82, offensive coordinator.
Brown, 1983, wide receivers.
New Hampshire, 1986-87, offensive coordinator.
New Haven, 1988-93, head coach.
Brown, 1994-97, head coach.
Massachusetts, 1998-2003, head coach.
Miami (Fla.), 2009-10, assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks.
Massachusetts, 2014-18, head coach.
Pittsburgh, 2019, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks.
PRO
Arizona Wranglers (USFL), 1984, quarterbacks assistant.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004-06, quarterbacks.
Philadelphia Eagles, 2008, offensive assistant.
Cleveland Browns, 2011-12, quarterbacks.
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In Whipple, Pitt is gaining the services of a coach who owns nearly 40 years of experience and championship rings at both the NFL and collegiate levels. A renowned mentor of quarterbacks, Whipple was Ben Roethlisberger's first positional coach with the Steelers and the pair won a Super Bowl together during the 2005 season. Whipple also won a college national title as head coach at Massachusetts behind a record-setting offense in 1998.
"Mark Whipple is truly one of the best teachers of offensive football in the country—college and pro," Narduzzi said. "His track record working with quarterbacks is simply outstanding and I know that positional group will really grow under his influence. Mark will not only make a huge impact from an offensive standpoint, but his tremendous wealth of experience will benefit our entire program. I really value the fact that we are adding another staff member who has been a head coach. We are thrilled to welcome Coach Whipple and his family back to Pittsburgh."
"I have known and respected Pat Narduzzi for a very long time, so it is an incredibly exciting opportunity to join his coaching staff at Pitt," Whipple said. "He is building something very special at a place that has such a rich and inspiring football tradition. I am really looking forward to meeting our players and hitting the ground running in preparation for spring ball."
Whipple arrives at Pitt after spending the past five seasons (2014-18) as head coach at UMass, his second tour leading the Minutemen's program. Charged with transitioning UMass to the Football Bowl Subdivision, and annually facing a tough array of Power 5 opponents, Whipple's teams featured one of the nation's most potent passing attacks.
The Minutemen finished among the country's top 20 passing teams in three of the past five years. In 2018, they averaged 298.1 passing yards per game to rank 14th nationally. In 2017, they ranked 17th in the nation (297.5) and in 2014 they placed 11th (311.8).
Whipple oversaw the greatest season in UMass history, the 1998 national championship campaign, during which the Minutemen won a school-record 12 games and defeated top-ranked Georgia Southern, 55-43, for the NCAA I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) title. Whipple was subsequently honored as the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I-AA Coach of the Year.
Whipple concluded his Massachusetts tenure as the winningest coach in school history with 65 victories and claimed three Atlantic 10 titles and three NCAA playoff berths.
In addition to his two stints at UMass, he also led the programs at Brown University (1994-97) and University of New Haven (1988-93). Whipple compiled a 136-104 record over 21 total seasons as a college head coach.
At Brown, his alma mater, Whipple revitalized the football program's fortunes while rewriting the offensive record books. In addition to a slew of school marks, the Bears set Ivy League records for total offense (483.6 avg.) and passing yards (334.6) per league game in 1997. Brown never suffered a losing season under Whipple's guidance, winning more games in his four years (23) than the previous eight seasons combined.
At New Haven, Whipple's offenses earned national acclaim. Sports Illustrated lauded his 1993 team as having the "Best Offense in College Football" after averaging 52.5 points and 557.6 yards per game. In 1992, the Chargers led all NCAA divisions in scoring (50.5 avg.) and total offense (587.7). New Haven went a combined 23-2 overall during those two years (20-0 during the regular-season), earning NCAA Division II playoff berths each time. Whipple went 48-17 at New Haven with Top 20 national rankings in five of his six seasons.
Whipple had three coaching appointments in the NFL. His initial stint was as quarterbacks coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher from 2004-06. Under Whipple's mentorship in 2004, Roethlisberger broke Dan Marino's NFL rookie quarterback records for completion percentage (66.4) and passer rating (98.1), and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In 2005, Roethlisberger became the youngest starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Whipple served as the Cleveland Browns' quarterbacks coach under Pat Shurmur in 2011 and 2012. He additionally was an offensive assistant on Andy Reid's Philadelphia staff in 2008, helping the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game. Whipple's first post in professional football came under the legendary George Allen with the USFL's Arizona Wranglers in 1984.
Following his time in Philadelphia, Whipple returned to the college ranks at the University of Miami, where he was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2009 and 2010. In each of those seasons, the Hurricanes eclipsed 5,000 yards in total offense. The 2010 team remains one of the most prolific in school history, amassing 2,388 rushing yards (third all-time) and 5,493 total yards (fifth all-time).
Whipple's other offensive coordinator appointments came at New Hampshire (1986-87) and Union College (1981-82). He was a wide receivers coach at Brown (1983) and earned his first coaching post as an assistant at St. Lawrence University (1980).
A 1979 graduate of Brown with a bachelor's degree in political science, Whipple was a two-sport standout for the Bears. In football, he was a two-year starting quarterback (1977-78), leading the team to a pair of runner-up finishes in the Ivy League. He also was a four-year letterman and starting shortstop for the Brown baseball team. Whipple was inducted into Brown's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
He and his wife, Brenda, have two sons, Spencer and Austin. Spencer is a former walk-on quarterback at Pitt who also worked as a football graduate assistant for the Panthers during the 2012-13 seasons.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: April 1, 1957
Hometown: Tarrytown, N.Y.
Alma Mater: Brown, 1979
Family: Whipple and his wife, Brenda, have two sons, Spencer and Austin.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
COLLEGE
St. Lawrence, 1980, assistant coach.
Union, 1981-82, offensive coordinator.
Brown, 1983, wide receivers.
New Hampshire, 1986-87, offensive coordinator.
New Haven, 1988-93, head coach.
Brown, 1994-97, head coach.
Massachusetts, 1998-2003, head coach.
Miami (Fla.), 2009-10, assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks.
Massachusetts, 2014-18, head coach.
Pittsburgh, 2019, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks.
PRO
Arizona Wranglers (USFL), 1984, quarterbacks assistant.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004-06, quarterbacks.
Philadelphia Eagles, 2008, offensive assistant.
Cleveland Browns, 2011-12, quarterbacks.
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