Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple resigns
from Zac Wassink, at www.yardbarker.com
The Pittsburgh Panthers claimed the ACC title via Saturday’s win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and feature a Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback in Kenny Pickett.
They won’t, however, have their offensive coordinator when they face Michigan State in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.
Panthers offensive coordinator Mark Whipple resigned on Tuesday following the completion of his third season holding the job. No reason for Whipple’s decision was given.
“During his three seasons at Pitt, Mark Whipple was a great asset for our entire football program,” Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement shared by Adam Rittenberg of ESPN. “He did a tremendous job transitioning us from a heavy run attack to one of the best passing games in the entire country. His great work with quarterbacks was obviously on full display, given the outstanding year Kenny Pickett has enjoyed. I am very grateful for Mark’s time in Pittsburgh, both personally as well as professionally, and I wish him and his family the very best moving forward.”
Rittenberg added it’s unknown who will call offensive plays for Pitt in the Peach Bowl.
Also on Tuesday, Parker Gabriel of the Lincoln Journal Star linked Whipple with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he theoretically could serve as offensive coordinator under head coach Scott Frost. Frost’s interest likely stems from the fact that Whipple helped develop Pittsburgh’s offense into a unit that finished third in the nation in scoring (43.0 points per game) and fifth in total production (504.3 yards per contest), per ESPN stats.
However, Whipple is 64, and Johnny McGonigal of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Tuesday’s development was “family-related,” which suggests Whipple could ride off into the sunset of retirement.