Rutgers offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen is stepping down and will be replaced by wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels.
Friedgen, who just finished his first season with the Scarlet Knights, will remain with the program in an advisory role, the school announced.
Friedgen, the longtime Maryland head coach, hadn’t coached since he was fired by Maryland following the 2010 season. Flood convinced Friedgen to return to the sideline and he helped the Rutgers offense average 390 yards per game en route to an 8-5 season.
"I want to thank coach Friedgen for spending a year with us as offensive coordinator and I am looking forward to coach Friedgen staying on our staff as special assitant to the head coach," Flood said Tuesday per Scarlet Nation.
Though Flood said during the program’s National Signing Day press conference that he anticipated Friedgen would return, Friedgen hinted in November that he might not come back. Friedgen signed a two-year contract last January.
“I’m getting up in age,” Friedgen said following Rutgers’ win over Maryland. “Some things are a little tougher for me than others. I’m going to sit back after the season and kind of reflect on everything.”
Before his lone season with Rutgers and his 10-year head coaching stint at Maryland, Friedgen was an assistant at The Citadel, William & Mary, Murray State, Georgia Tech and with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. He also had two prior stints as an assistant at Maryland, his alma mater.
The 34-year-old McDaniels, Friedgen's successor, is the brother of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Before joining the staff at Rutgers last year, he was an assistant with the Tampa Bay Bucs and Denver Broncos. He also spent one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Columbia in 2012.
"I am always prepared for a great opportunity and when coach [Flood] and I had the discussions, I was obviously excited about it," McDaniels said.
To coincide with McDaniels' promotion, Rutgers announced that tight ends coach Anthony Campanile will move to receivers coach while recruiting coordinator Phil Galiano will be the team's tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.
For more Rutgers news, visit ScarletNation.com.
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