Chris Ash Names John McNulty Offensive Coordinator
Jan 16 | Football
25-year veteran and former Scarlet Knight play-caller returns to the Banks
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers head football coach Chris Ash named John McNulty offensive coordinator, it was announced today. McNulty, who has over 25 years experience as an offensive coach, previously spent five seasons on the Scarlet Knights' sideline, including three as offensive coordinator.
"I'm excited to welcome John back to the Rutgers football family," said Ash. "He has a wealth of football knowledge and experience, and I look forward to him helping develop our quarterbacks. John is a great leader, man and coach, and I'm excited to see him shape the identity of our offense."
McNulty piloted one of the most prolific offenses in Rutgers history in 2007 with the Scarlet Knights becoming the first program in the FBS to have a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teel), 2,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood) in the same season. At the time, the 2007 squad was one of just eight teams in the 138 seasons of football at Rutgers to score 300 points in a season. The Scarlet Knights set school records for scoring (426), first downs (294) and total offense (5,841) in 2007.
During the 2007 season, Britt and Underwood became the 26th pair of teammates in the NCAA and the first in Big East history to each have at least 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. Britt led the conference with 1,232 yards and Underwood added 1,100 yards.
McNulty was part of four bowl teams during his five-year tenure at Rutgers, including three-straight wins at the Texas, International and PapaJohns.com Bowls.
Following his final season at Rutgers, McNulty spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, coaching wide receivers from 2009-11, including All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and quarterbacks in 2012. He later joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff for the 2013 season, coaching rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, who earned All-Rookie honors.
McNulty served as quarterbacks coach for two seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2014-15 under his former Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. While with the Titans, he mentored second overall pick Marcus Mariota for the 2015 season. Mariota went on to earn All-Rookie honors after finishing the season with the highest passer rating among rookies (91.5). He posted four games with at least three touchdown passes in 2015, tying Peyton Manning (1998) for the most ever by an NFL rookie despite missing four games. Mariota also broke the franchise record for most passing touchdowns (19), completions (230) and passing yards (2,818) by a rookie.
Most recently, McNulty has spent the previous two seasons (2016-17) on the Los Angeles Chargers staff as tight ends coach.
Prior to his first stint with the Scarlet Knights, McNulty spent six seasons as an NFL assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1998-2002 under head coach Tom Coughlin and the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells. During his six-year stint, McNulty helped his teams advance to three playoff berths. While in Jacksonville, he coached two of the NFL's top receiving duos in Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. In 2000 and 2001, the pair combined for 390 receptions and 4,903 yards, while Smith earned All-Pro honors both seasons.
McNulty began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Michigan from 1991-94. He then spent three seasons as wide receivers coach at Connecticut from 1995-97 before joining the NFL. McNulty played safety at Penn State from 1988-90, where he was a member of two Nittany Lion bowl teams.
A native of Scranton, Pa., McNulty and his wife Kim have four daughters: Abigail, Allison, Megan and Kaitlyn.
"You have to give him a lot of credit for my career," Rice said. "The amount of times I carried the ball and was able to put my talent on display, that's him. We wanted to win football games but let people know we're for real. Rutgers is for real. It's one thing to be able to call plays, but he's able to maximize the talent to get the best out you. Under coach McNulty, guys will be in position to make a lot of plays. He'll give you multiple opportunities to make plays."
"I'm excited to welcome John back to the Rutgers football family," said Ash. "He has a wealth of football knowledge and experience, and I look forward to him helping develop our quarterbacks. John is a great leader, man and coach, and I'm excited to see him shape the identity of our offense."
McNulty piloted one of the most prolific offenses in Rutgers history in 2007 with the Scarlet Knights becoming the first program in the FBS to have a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teel), 2,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood) in the same season. At the time, the 2007 squad was one of just eight teams in the 138 seasons of football at Rutgers to score 300 points in a season. The Scarlet Knights set school records for scoring (426), first downs (294) and total offense (5,841) in 2007.
During the 2007 season, Britt and Underwood became the 26th pair of teammates in the NCAA and the first in Big East history to each have at least 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. Britt led the conference with 1,232 yards and Underwood added 1,100 yards.
McNulty was part of four bowl teams during his five-year tenure at Rutgers, including three-straight wins at the Texas, International and PapaJohns.com Bowls.
Following his final season at Rutgers, McNulty spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, coaching wide receivers from 2009-11, including All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and quarterbacks in 2012. He later joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff for the 2013 season, coaching rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, who earned All-Rookie honors.
McNulty served as quarterbacks coach for two seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2014-15 under his former Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. While with the Titans, he mentored second overall pick Marcus Mariota for the 2015 season. Mariota went on to earn All-Rookie honors after finishing the season with the highest passer rating among rookies (91.5). He posted four games with at least three touchdown passes in 2015, tying Peyton Manning (1998) for the most ever by an NFL rookie despite missing four games. Mariota also broke the franchise record for most passing touchdowns (19), completions (230) and passing yards (2,818) by a rookie.
Most recently, McNulty has spent the previous two seasons (2016-17) on the Los Angeles Chargers staff as tight ends coach.
Prior to his first stint with the Scarlet Knights, McNulty spent six seasons as an NFL assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1998-2002 under head coach Tom Coughlin and the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells. During his six-year stint, McNulty helped his teams advance to three playoff berths. While in Jacksonville, he coached two of the NFL's top receiving duos in Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. In 2000 and 2001, the pair combined for 390 receptions and 4,903 yards, while Smith earned All-Pro honors both seasons.
McNulty began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Michigan from 1991-94. He then spent three seasons as wide receivers coach at Connecticut from 1995-97 before joining the NFL. McNulty played safety at Penn State from 1988-90, where he was a member of two Nittany Lion bowl teams.
A native of Scranton, Pa., McNulty and his wife Kim have four daughters: Abigail, Allison, Megan and Kaitlyn.
Big pick up for @RFootball he's a great coach and all around good guy he will do work on the recruiting trail https://t.co/WqBfp2AkmK
— Chris Hairston (@CHairston75) January 12, 2018
Ray Rice as told to ScarletReport.comGreat hire for @RFootball ...... know coach well from my AZ Cardinal days... Smart and innovative... loves the east coast...NJ recruits will embrace his value coming back to college w/ his added NFL coaching experience ???????? https://t.co/MXf4GLyCkt
— Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) January 12, 2018
"You have to give him a lot of credit for my career," Rice said. "The amount of times I carried the ball and was able to put my talent on display, that's him. We wanted to win football games but let people know we're for real. Rutgers is for real. It's one thing to be able to call plays, but he's able to maximize the talent to get the best out you. Under coach McNulty, guys will be in position to make a lot of plays. He'll give you multiple opportunities to make plays."
Mike Teel as told to NJ Advance Media
"He's going to do everything he can to put the players in the right position.," Teel said. "When I was fortunate enough to play for him, we had receivers that were wide open at different points of the game because of the game plan. We had holes that you could drive a car through. I know we had Ray Rice and a great line, but just the schematic part of the game that he brings, the knowledge, the experience, I think that's going to be of the utmost importance."
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