Kirk Ciarrocca enters his second season as an assistant on the Rutgers football staff. Ciarrocca, after spending his first season as wide receivers coach, will transition to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ciarrocca held similar posts most recently at the University of Delaware during his six-year stint with the Blue Hens.
Ciarrocca tutored a wide receiver corps last season that included all-time Rutgers and BIG EAST receiving leader Kenny Britt. Britt went on to become the Scarlet Knights’ first-ever first round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. Joining him in the professional ranks was fellow wide receiver Tiquan Underwood as the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Underwood in the seventh round.
In his six years at Delaware, the Blue Hens posted a combined record of 52-26, advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs three times, and captured consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference titles in 2003 and 2004.
Ciarrocca played an important role in mentoring a Blue Hen offense that helped Delaware post a 15-1 record and capture the NCAA FCS National Championship in 2003. Led by All-American quarterback Andy Hall, the Blue Hens led the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring offense (34.7 ppg) and rushing offense (207.6) and ranked among the Top 20 nationally in both categories.
The Blue Hen offensive unit was impressive again during the 2007 season when Delaware posted an 11-4 record and advanced to the NCAA FCS title game. Delaware, paced by consensus All-Americans in quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Omar Cuff, and offensive tackle Mike Byrne, led the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring (36.2, 11th in NCAA), total offense (460.6, 6th in NCAA), and passing offense (289.5, 11th in NCAA).
A first round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, Flacco threw for over 4,000 yards in 2007, while Cuff set an NCAA FCS record with 39 total touchdowns. Both Flacco and Cuff each set numerous school single-game, season, and career marks.
Ciarrocca, who earned his bachelor's degree from Temple in 1990 and his master of education degree from Temple in 1991, came to Delaware after serving the previous two seasons as wide receivers coach at the University of Pennsylvania.
While at Penn, he helped the Quakers post a record of 7-3 in 2000 and 8-1 in 2001. The Quakers were Ivy League Champions in 2000 and league runner-up in 2001, ranking among the national leaders in passing offense both seasons. Penn ranked No. 1 in NCAA FCS in team passing offense (342.7) and fourth in total offense (474.6) in 2000 and was No. 4 nationally in total offense (403.1) in 2001. Prior to coaching at Penn, Ciarrocca served as receivers coach and junior varsity head coach at Princeton from 1996-99.
A native of Lewisberry, Pa., Ciarrocca played defensive back at Red Land (Pa.) High School and at Juniata College before a knee injury ended his career. He transferred to Temple University where he received his degree in 1990.
Ciarrocca began his coaching career as an assistant at Red Land High School and St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia before serving as a graduate assistant at Temple during the 1990 and 1991 seasons.
He moved on to coaching stints at Western Connecticut State, where he served as Passing Game Coordinator in 1992; served as Passing Game Coordinator at Delaware Valley College in 1993; and Offensive Coordinator at Western Connecticut in 1994-95 before heading to Princeton.
Ciarrocca and his wife Kim are the proud parents of daughter Colby and son Cade.
