Report: Joe Moorhead stays with Akron, signs contract extension

Akron will retain head coach Joe Moorhead this offseason, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. In a story for ESPN, Thamel said Moorhead is staying on with the Zips and has received a contract extension. Here was the basic report:

“Akron has agreed to a contract extension with head football coach Joe Moorhead, sources told ESPN. The extension delivers an extra year to his contract through 2027. It also includes a retention bonus structure that puts his salary in the middle of the pack in the MAC conference, per sources.”

Moorhead joined Akron as head coach last offseason and finished 2-10 in his first year with the team. Despite a tough inaugural season, Moorhead, a former Penn State offensive coordinator and head coach at Mississippi State, had reportedly received interest from power five schools at the college level and even a few pro teams as a possible assistant. Instead, he’ll stay with the Zips.

Background on Moorhead with Akron

A little summary of the coach’s time with the Zips thus far:

“Moorhead is one of the country’s highest-regarded play callers, which led to a bevy of interest this off-season. He’s a former Akron assistant and came back, in part, because of his familiarity with the school and area. Akron led the MAC in passing in 2022 after finishing No. 7 the year before Moorhead’s arrival.

“Akron’s returning starters include multiple All-MAC players. Quarterback DJ Irons earned third-team All-MAC honors last year after throwing for 2,606 yards and running for 314 yards and four touchdowns. He’ll re-unite next season with first-team All-MAC wide receiver Alex Adams, an LSU transfer who caught nine touchdowns and had 856 receiving yards last year. Second-team All-MAC linebacker Bubba Arslanian received a medical redshirt and will return for a seventh season. Moorhead was able to retain and promote well-regarded assistant Billy Fessler, who will serve as the offensive coordinator in his second season there.”