UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead has been selected to the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 2017 class.
(Photo of Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead during the Nittany Lions spring workouts. Photo by Mark Selders. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics)
Moorhead was a standout quarterback for the Rams and then returned to serve as head coach for four seasons. Moorhead and the other members of the class will be honored on April 22, 2017 at 583 Park, during the Inaugural Fordham Athletics Gala.
Moorhead was a three-year starting quarterback and team captain as a senior for the Rams. He was a second-team All-Patriot League selection in 1995 after finishing 13th in the FCS in total offense. Moorhead graduated with school season and career records for completions and passing yards.
The Pittsburgh native joined the coaching ranks following his playing career. After stops at Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Akron and Connecticut, Moorhead returned to Fordham as a head coach where he led the Rams to a 38-13 record in four seasons.
After inheriting a program that went 1-10, Moorhead steadily built Fordham into a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff regular, along the way, leading the Rams to their best season in program history in 2013 and the Patriot League title in 2014. During his tenure, Moorhead produced the highest ranking in program history (No. 5 in 2013), highest final ranking in program history (No. 9 in 2013 and 2014), the first two wins over FBS schools in program history and the first two wins over Top 10 opponents in school history. Moorhead guided the 2014 Jerry Rice Award for the NCAA FCS Rookie of the Year, three consecutive Patriot League Offensive Players of the Year, 11 All-Americans, five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and 55 All-Patriot League performers (37 first team, 18 second team) while with the Rams.
Under Moorhead, the Rams were consistently one of the top offensive teams in FCS. The Moorhead-led offense set 16 school records (individual and team) in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, Moorhead led the Rams to their first Patriot League title since 2007 with a perfect 6-0 mark in league play and an 11-3 record overall. In one of the most impressive seasons in school history, Moorhead guided the Rams to a 12-2 record in 2013, which included the program’s first win over an FBS opponent (Temple) and the school’s first two wins over Top 10 opponents (Villanova, Lehigh).
Moorhead joined the Penn State staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in December 2015.
Penn State opens the 2016 campaign against Kent State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, September 3.
