On Tuesday, word dropped that Pittsburgh Panthers offensive coordinator Mark Whipple had resigned from his position following the team’s ACC Championship season. Whipple was the architect of an offense built around quarterback Kenny Pickett, winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Whipple’s resignation was immediate and meant he wouldn’t participate in their upcoming Peach Bowl game vs. Michigan State on Dec. 30. Immediately, people started wondering which job he was going to be taking instead. Given the coaching carousel spin currently going on, it only seemed natural that he was leaving one job for something better (or better paying).
However, word started to leak that Whipple’s decision was family-related and unrelated to a new job.
Source says Mark Whipple's decision to step away at Pitt is family related. Wish him the best. Did a great job with Pitt offense and Kenny Pickett this year. Great dude.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) December 7, 2021
Turns out, that’s not true. Or at least, if it is family-related, it’s because his family really wanted to move to Lincoln, Nebraska. Whipple was announced as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Wednesday.
Nebraska has hired Pitt OC/QB coach Mark Whipple as the Huskers new offensive coordinator/QB coach. Whipple resigned yesterday morning from Pitt.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 8, 2021
Whipple comes with tons of coaching experience. Along with head coaching stints with Brown and UMass, he also spent some years in the NFL with the Steelers, Eagles, and Browns, as well as working for Miami as an offensive coordinator between 2009 and 2010.
Whipple certainly made his mark at Pitt and has the chance to help rebuild another former college football power in Nebraska. In the meantime, there were some strong reactions on social media to the news that he was headed to Lincoln to coach under Scott Frost.
Didn't he cite family as his reason for resignation? https://t.co/N5xdLlgnX1
— Ben Heisler (@bennyheis) December 8, 2021
Gee, so lies were told? Say it ain’t so. https://t.co/HeMXe2ESwf
— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) December 8, 2021
It took Whipple 3 seasons to turn Kenny Pickett and the Pitt offense into what we saw in 2021.
Hard to believe Scott Frost or Whipple has that kind of time in Lincoln. This is a hire that looks good on the surface, but might not be an instant fix. https://t.co/t1so3zEFLO
— Nick Larson (@nmlarson_4) December 8, 2021
Heck of a move for Frost. https://t.co/bMfXAFdHbw
— Darren Goldwater (@DarrenGoldwater) December 8, 2021
That’s a nice hire for Nebraska. https://t.co/2ttWMlQO2z
— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) December 8, 2021
Nebraska needs a serious jolt in the right direction as a program and Frost needs a winning season to ensure that he keeps his job beyond 2022. We’ll see how much of an impact Whipple can make right away for both of those things. Because otherwise, it’s going to be a very short stint in town.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.