CLARION, Pa. – With just a little over a week to go before the start of fall football camp, the Clarion University football program is in search of an offensive coordinator.
(Photo of Jesse Correll courtesy of Clarion Athletics)
(Also see Correll’s timing couldn’t come at a worse time)
The job suddenly opened up at the end of last week when Jesse Correll, who had served as the offensive coordinator in second-year head coach Chris Weibel’s first season, left to take a coaching job at his alma mater, Shepherd University, under his former coach and boss Monte Carter.
“Jesse has been hired at Shephard,” Shephard Sports Information Director Chip Ransom said. “I am not sure of his title nor his start date, but he has been hired.”
According to Clarion University Sports Information Director Sean Fagen, Correll was no longer employed at Clarion as of Friday.
“I talked to Chris (Weibel) this morning, and he said he would let me know as soon as a replacement is found,” Fagen told EYT Media Monday.
Correll, who came to Clarion from NCAA Division III Stevenson University April 28, 2015, had an immediate impact on the Golden Eagles in his only season as the offensive coordinator.
In helping Clarion go 7-4 last season, including a 7-0 start, Correll’s offense ranked seventh in the 16-team PSAC, and third in the eight-team Western Division, averaging 33.3 points per game. The Golden Eagles 443.5 yards per game ranked sixth in the PSAC and third in the PSAC West, and the 328.7 yards per game passing led the PSAC West while ranking second in the PSAC behind East Stroudsburg.
Clarion quarterback Connor Simmons led the PSAC West and ranked second in the PSAC in passing at 325.6 yards per contest while completing 56.3 percent (228 of 405) of his passes with 34 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. He threw for a school-single-season record 3,582 yards breaking the mark of his head coach while being named a Don Hansen Super Region 1 performer.
Meanwhile, Matt Lehman ranked third in the PSAC and second in the PSAC West in receiving yards per game with 97.9. He caught 67 passes for 979 yards, the third-most in a season in school history, and a PSAC West-leading 15 touchdowns, which set Clarion’s single-season mark. A first-team PSAC West selection, Lehman was a third-team Don Hansen All-American.
Correll’s offense wasn’t all about throwing the ball.
The Golden Eagles Delrece Williams ranked sixth in the PSAC in rushing yards per contest with 97.8. He ran for 978 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry with 182 carries. He was named second-team PSAC West and to the Don Hansen All-Super Region 1 team.
The loss of Correll, who is going back to Shepard where he played wide receiver before graduating in 2005 before coaching the Rams as their wide receivers coach from 2007-09, puts Clarion in a bind just before the start of the season.
The Golden Eagle offense has the weapons to be successful again this season with Simmons, Lehman and Williams all back.
One option for Clarion this season could be for Weibel to take back over the play-calling duties. The Golden Eagles offensive coordinator before becoming head coach before last season, Weibel was also an All-American quarterback for Clarion leading the Golden Eagles to the 1996 NCAA Final Four. He played professionally in Arena football.
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