In a surprising turn of events, the financial landscape at Penn State University has drawn attention with the revelation that a recently fired assistant coach remains one of the highest-paid individuals in the athletic department for the 2023-24 fiscal year. According to new transparency documents, Mike Yurcich, who was let go in November 2023, earned an impressive $1,274,881, placing him sixth among the university’s top earners.
While Yurcich’s salary was undoubtedly significant, it’s noteworthy that the only athletic department personnel who surpassed him in earnings were the likes of athletic director Pat Kraft, head basketball coach Mike Rhoades, and head football coach James Franklin. To put this in perspective, Yurcich’s paycheck even eclipsed that of the highly regarded wrestling coach Cael Sanderson, who has guided his squad to an astonishing 12 national titles in 14 years, bringing in $1,017,300.
Despite his lucrative compensation, Yurcich’s tenure came to an abrupt end due to the underperformance of the Penn State offense in high-stakes situations. The Nittany Lions finished the 2023 regular season with a solid 10-2 record, but their struggles were glaring in pivotal matchups, scoring a mere 27 points combined in losses against Ohio State and Michigan. These offensive shortcomings overshadowed some notable achievements during his time, including a Rose Bowl victory and a remarkable 13-game streak of scoring 30 or more points – feats that left many fans feeling conflicted about his departure.
Looking ahead, Yurcich has landed the role of offensive coordinator at Youngstown State as of January. At just 49 years old, he has an impressive resume that includes coordinating roles at institutions like Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas. Given his experience and pedigree, there’s a strong possibility that we’ll see him back in the Power Four conference sooner rather than later. As the college football landscape evolves, all eyes will be on Yurcich to see how he carves out his next chapter after this unexpected change in fortune.
