Football
Whipple, Mark
Mark Whipple
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- Season at Pitt:
- Third
Follow Mark Whipple: Twitter
Regarded as one of football's finest offensive minds, Mark Whipple enters his third season as Pitt's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Whipple owns four decades of experience and championship rings at both the NFL and collegiate levels.
Under Whipple's guidance, Kenny Pickett has established himself among the most productive quarterbacks in Pitt history, ranking third all-time in total offense (8,552) and fifth in passing yards (7,984). Entering the 2021 season, Pickett is poised to eclipse leader Alex Van Pelt (1989-92) in both categories (11,267 pass yards and 11,148 total yards).
In 2020, Pickett became the first Pitt quarterback to twice throw for 400 yards in a game. He was named to the Johnny Unitas Award Top 15 despite missing two contests due to injury. In 2019, Pickett threw for a career-high 3,098 yards, fourth all-time at Pitt, and closed the season with an MVP performance in the Quick Lane Bowl, passing for 361 yards and three touchdowns.
Pitt's wideouts have thrived in Whipple's offense. Jordan Addision was a Freshman All-American in 2020 after catching 60 passes for 666 yards and four scores. In 2019, Maurice Ffrench had a school-record 96 catches, surpassing Larry Fitzgerald's mark of 92 set in 2003. Ffrench led the nation with 8.7 receptions per contest.
From 2014-18, Whipple was head coach at Massachusetts, his second tour leading the Minutemen’s program. The Minutemen finished among the country’s top 20 passing teams in three of his five years. In 2018, they averaged 298.1 passing yards per game to rank 14th nationally, while All-America wideout Andy Isabella led the nation in receiving yards (1,698) and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.
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 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 137-102 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 (24) than the previous eight seasons combined.
Sports Illustrated lauded his 1993 New Haven 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, Ben 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 pro football came under the legendary George Allen with the USFL’s Arizona Wranglers in 1984.
Following his Eagles stint, Whipple was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami in 2009 and 2010. In each of those seasons, the Hurricanes eclipsed 5,000 yards in total offense.
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, a former walk-on quarterback at Pitt, worked as a football graduate assistant for the Panthers (2012-13) and now is an assistant wide receivers coach with the Arizona Cardinals. Austin is a volunteer offensive assistant at Pitt.
Regarded as one of football's finest offensive minds, Mark Whipple enters his third season as Pitt's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Whipple owns four decades of experience and championship rings at both the NFL and collegiate levels.
Under Whipple's guidance, Kenny Pickett has established himself among the most productive quarterbacks in Pitt history, ranking third all-time in total offense (8,552) and fifth in passing yards (7,984). Entering the 2021 season, Pickett is poised to eclipse leader Alex Van Pelt (1989-92) in both categories (11,267 pass yards and 11,148 total yards).
In 2020, Pickett became the first Pitt quarterback to twice throw for 400 yards in a game. He was named to the Johnny Unitas Award Top 15 despite missing two contests due to injury. In 2019, Pickett threw for a career-high 3,098 yards, fourth all-time at Pitt, and closed the season with an MVP performance in the Quick Lane Bowl, passing for 361 yards and three touchdowns.
Pitt's wideouts have thrived in Whipple's offense. Jordan Addision was a Freshman All-American in 2020 after catching 60 passes for 666 yards and four scores. In 2019, Maurice Ffrench had a school-record 96 catches, surpassing Larry Fitzgerald's mark of 92 set in 2003. Ffrench led the nation with 8.7 receptions per contest.
From 2014-18, Whipple was head coach at Massachusetts, his second tour leading the Minutemen’s program. The Minutemen finished among the country’s top 20 passing teams in three of his five years. In 2018, they averaged 298.1 passing yards per game to rank 14th nationally, while All-America wideout Andy Isabella led the nation in receiving yards (1,698) and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.
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 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 137-102 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 (24) than the previous eight seasons combined.
Sports Illustrated lauded his 1993 New Haven 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, Ben 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 pro football came under the legendary George Allen with the USFL’s Arizona Wranglers in 1984.
Following his Eagles stint, Whipple was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami in 2009 and 2010. In each of those seasons, the Hurricanes eclipsed 5,000 yards in total offense.
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, a former walk-on quarterback at Pitt, worked as a football graduate assistant for the Panthers (2012-13) and now is an assistant wide receivers coach with the Arizona Cardinals. Austin is a volunteer offensive assistant at Pitt.
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.
COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE
Pitt, 2019-present, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks.
Massachusetts, 2014-18, head coach.
Miami (Fla.), 2009-10, assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks.
Massachusetts, 1998-2003, head coach.
Brown, 1994-97, head coach.
New Haven, 1988-93, head coach.
New Hampshire, 1986-87, offensive coordinator.
Brown, 1983, wide receivers.
Union, 1981-82, offensive coordinator.
St. Lawrence, 1980, assistant coach.
PROFESSIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE
Cleveland Browns, 2011-12, quarterbacks.
Philadelphia Eagles, 2008, offensive assistant.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004-06, quarterbacks.
Arizona Wranglers (USFL), 1984, quarterbacks assistant.
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