Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Football
Yurcich, Mike
Mike Yurcich
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
• Mike Yurcich joined the Oklahoma State coaching staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in February of 2013 after serving as offensive coordinator at Shippensburg University from 2011-12.
• He has overseen one of the greatest offensive eras in the history of Oklahoma State football and was nominated for the Broyles Award, which is presented to the nation’s top assistant coach in 2016 and again in 2017.
• Four of Yurcich’s six years in Stillwater have resulted in 10-win seasons for Oklahoma State. With Yurcich on staff, the Cowboys have amassed a 52-24 overall record.
• Yurcich has coached one of the nation’s most productive offenses since coming to Stillwater. In his six seasons with the Cowboys, Oklahoma State averages 38.0 points and 478.3 yards of total offense per game. The Cowboys have scored 40 or more points in a game 35 times, have scored 50 or more points in a game 15 times and have scored 60 or more points in a game three times with Yurcich calling plays.
• Four of Yurcich’s six years at Oklahoma State have produced top-10 seasons for total offense in school history.
• In 2018, Yurcich took quarterback Taylor Cornelius from unheralded former walk-on to standout performer. Cornelius entered the season with only 24 career pass attempts to his credit, but goes into the bowl game ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offense and points responsible for this season.
• Entering the bowl game, the Cowboy offense of 2018 ranks in the top 15 nationally in scoring offense, total offense, passing offense and first downs. Additionally, the Cowboys rank second in the Big 12 in rushing offense (192.1 yards per game), rushing touchdowns (29) and rushing yards per carry (4.77). The rushing yards per game and rushing yards per attempt numbers are the best for an OSU team since 2012. OSU had four games with 200 or more yards rushing and led the Big 12 with 27 rushing touchdowns that were scored from within the red zone.
• Overseen by Yurcich, Oklahoma State has increased its yearly rushing total in each of the past three seasons. In 2015, the Cowboys averaged 3.58 yards per rush and 126.85 yards per game. That improved to 4.53 yards per rush and 171.00 yards per game in 2016 and then to 4.63 yards per rush and 179.77 yards per game in 2017. Entering the bowl game, OSU averages 4.77 yards per rush and 192.08 yards per game in 2018.
• The 2017 Oklahoma State offense was perhaps the best in school history, evidenced by the fact that the Cowboys of 2017 set single-season school records for total offense, total offense yards per game, yards per play, passing yards, pass efficiency, passing yards per attempt, passing yards per game and first downs, among numerous other records.
• In 2017, Yurcich’s Cowboy offense led the nation in passing offense, ranked second in total offense and first downs, ranked third in pass efficiency and ranked fourth in scoring offense. The 2017 Cowboys reached the 50-point mark in six games and eclipsed 500 yards of offense nine times, including a school-record 747 yards against Baylor.
• In 2017, Yurcich coordinated an Oklahoma State offense that became the first in Big 12 history with a 4,000-yard passer (Mason Rudolph), two 1,000-yard receivers (James Washington and Marcell Ateman) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Justice Hill).
• In 2016, the Oklahoma State offense was one of only two from Power Five conferences to produce a 4,000-yard passer (Mason Rudolph), a 1,000-yard rusher (Hill) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Washington).
• With Yurcich serving as both his offensive coordinator and position coach, Mason Rudolph set no fewer than 50 school records, won the 2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the 2017 Sammy Baugh Award and was a finalist for the 2017 Davey O’Brien Award.
• Operating in Yurcich’s offense for his entire college career, receiver James Washington won the 2017 Biletnikoff Award presented to the nation’s top receiver and was a unanimous All-American. Washington finished his career as Oklahoma State’s all-time leading receiver with 4,472 career yards, a mark that ranks second in Big 12 Conference history.
• Going against convention in 2015, Yurcich coordinated a two-quarterback system that worked spectacularly and was a central reason for Oklahoma State earning the Big 12’s berth into the Sugar Bowl. Mason Rudolph ranked 17th nationally in passing yards and seventh nationally in yards per pass completion. J.W. Walsh was responsible for 156 points despite having only 162 total offense attempts (0.92 points responsible for per total offense attempt). Rudolph and Walsh combined to throw 34 touchdown passes.
• In 2014, Yurcich oversaw an offense that produced Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Tyreek Hill and ranked in the top 10 nationally in red zone offense and fewest fumbles lost.
• Yurcich helped re-write the record books at Shippensburg. His first team set school records for points, touchdowns, total plays, first downs and total offense. His second team led the NCAA (Division II) in total offense (529.2 yards per game), and was second nationally in scoring (46.9 points per game) and passing offense (387.7 yards per game) during an 11-2 season.
• With Yurcich serving as his position coach, Shippensburg quarterback Zach Zulli won the 2012 Harlon Hill Award as the top player in Division II. Zulli set NCAA Division II records by accounting for 336 points and 56 touchdowns and tied the national record with 54 touchdown passes. Zulli ranked fourth in Division II in passing yards per game (365.2), third in total offense (382.4) and fifth in passing efficiency with a rating of 165.3.
• Before coaching at Shippensburg, Yurcich spent time at Edinboro University from 2006-2010, where he served as offensive coordinator and coached quarterbacks and receivers. During his tenure at Edinboro, Yurcich coached All-America quarterback Trevor Harris, a four-time all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West selection who signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Edinboro had back-to-back nine win seasons in 2008 and 2009. The Fighting Scots advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II football playoffs where Harris set a Division II playoff record with 630 passing yards against West Liberty.
• Edinboro averaged at least 30 points per game from 2007-09 and consistently ranked among Division II’s top offenses with Yurcich calling plays.
• Yurcich is a 1999 graduate of California University in Pennsylvania. He spent three seasons as the school’s starting quarterback and was a two-year captain. He began his playing career at Mount Union College. He earned a degree in psychology at California and a master’s degree in education from St. Francis, where he picked up a school counseling license.
Personal
• Yurcich is a native of Euclid, Ohio. His wife, Julie, was an All-America cross country athlete at Edinboro. They have two sons, Jack and Clay, and a daughter, Maria.
2003-04: Indiana - Offensive Grad Assistant
2005-10: Edinboro - QB/WR in 2005; Offensive Coord./QBs, WR from 2006-10
2011-12: Shippensburg - Offensive Coord./QBs
2013-pres.: Oklahoma State - Offensive Coord./QBs
2015 Cactus Bowl
2016 Sugar Bowl
2016 Alamo Bowl
2017 Camping World Bowl
2018 Liberty Bowl
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Joseph Randle, Dallas Cowboys
Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers
Justice Hill, Oklahoma State
Clint Chelf, Oklahoma State
Trevor Harris, Edinboro
Zach Zulli, Shippensburg
• He has overseen one of the greatest offensive eras in the history of Oklahoma State football and was nominated for the Broyles Award, which is presented to the nation’s top assistant coach in 2016 and again in 2017.
• Four of Yurcich’s six years in Stillwater have resulted in 10-win seasons for Oklahoma State. With Yurcich on staff, the Cowboys have amassed a 52-24 overall record.
• Yurcich has coached one of the nation’s most productive offenses since coming to Stillwater. In his six seasons with the Cowboys, Oklahoma State averages 38.0 points and 478.3 yards of total offense per game. The Cowboys have scored 40 or more points in a game 35 times, have scored 50 or more points in a game 15 times and have scored 60 or more points in a game three times with Yurcich calling plays.
• Four of Yurcich’s six years at Oklahoma State have produced top-10 seasons for total offense in school history.
• In 2018, Yurcich took quarterback Taylor Cornelius from unheralded former walk-on to standout performer. Cornelius entered the season with only 24 career pass attempts to his credit, but goes into the bowl game ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offense and points responsible for this season.
• Entering the bowl game, the Cowboy offense of 2018 ranks in the top 15 nationally in scoring offense, total offense, passing offense and first downs. Additionally, the Cowboys rank second in the Big 12 in rushing offense (192.1 yards per game), rushing touchdowns (29) and rushing yards per carry (4.77). The rushing yards per game and rushing yards per attempt numbers are the best for an OSU team since 2012. OSU had four games with 200 or more yards rushing and led the Big 12 with 27 rushing touchdowns that were scored from within the red zone.
• Overseen by Yurcich, Oklahoma State has increased its yearly rushing total in each of the past three seasons. In 2015, the Cowboys averaged 3.58 yards per rush and 126.85 yards per game. That improved to 4.53 yards per rush and 171.00 yards per game in 2016 and then to 4.63 yards per rush and 179.77 yards per game in 2017. Entering the bowl game, OSU averages 4.77 yards per rush and 192.08 yards per game in 2018.
• The 2017 Oklahoma State offense was perhaps the best in school history, evidenced by the fact that the Cowboys of 2017 set single-season school records for total offense, total offense yards per game, yards per play, passing yards, pass efficiency, passing yards per attempt, passing yards per game and first downs, among numerous other records.
• In 2017, Yurcich’s Cowboy offense led the nation in passing offense, ranked second in total offense and first downs, ranked third in pass efficiency and ranked fourth in scoring offense. The 2017 Cowboys reached the 50-point mark in six games and eclipsed 500 yards of offense nine times, including a school-record 747 yards against Baylor.
• In 2017, Yurcich coordinated an Oklahoma State offense that became the first in Big 12 history with a 4,000-yard passer (Mason Rudolph), two 1,000-yard receivers (James Washington and Marcell Ateman) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Justice Hill).
• In 2016, the Oklahoma State offense was one of only two from Power Five conferences to produce a 4,000-yard passer (Mason Rudolph), a 1,000-yard rusher (Hill) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Washington).
• With Yurcich serving as both his offensive coordinator and position coach, Mason Rudolph set no fewer than 50 school records, won the 2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the 2017 Sammy Baugh Award and was a finalist for the 2017 Davey O’Brien Award.
• Operating in Yurcich’s offense for his entire college career, receiver James Washington won the 2017 Biletnikoff Award presented to the nation’s top receiver and was a unanimous All-American. Washington finished his career as Oklahoma State’s all-time leading receiver with 4,472 career yards, a mark that ranks second in Big 12 Conference history.
• Going against convention in 2015, Yurcich coordinated a two-quarterback system that worked spectacularly and was a central reason for Oklahoma State earning the Big 12’s berth into the Sugar Bowl. Mason Rudolph ranked 17th nationally in passing yards and seventh nationally in yards per pass completion. J.W. Walsh was responsible for 156 points despite having only 162 total offense attempts (0.92 points responsible for per total offense attempt). Rudolph and Walsh combined to throw 34 touchdown passes.
• In 2014, Yurcich oversaw an offense that produced Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Tyreek Hill and ranked in the top 10 nationally in red zone offense and fewest fumbles lost.
• Yurcich helped re-write the record books at Shippensburg. His first team set school records for points, touchdowns, total plays, first downs and total offense. His second team led the NCAA (Division II) in total offense (529.2 yards per game), and was second nationally in scoring (46.9 points per game) and passing offense (387.7 yards per game) during an 11-2 season.
• With Yurcich serving as his position coach, Shippensburg quarterback Zach Zulli won the 2012 Harlon Hill Award as the top player in Division II. Zulli set NCAA Division II records by accounting for 336 points and 56 touchdowns and tied the national record with 54 touchdown passes. Zulli ranked fourth in Division II in passing yards per game (365.2), third in total offense (382.4) and fifth in passing efficiency with a rating of 165.3.
• Before coaching at Shippensburg, Yurcich spent time at Edinboro University from 2006-2010, where he served as offensive coordinator and coached quarterbacks and receivers. During his tenure at Edinboro, Yurcich coached All-America quarterback Trevor Harris, a four-time all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West selection who signed a free agent contract with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Edinboro had back-to-back nine win seasons in 2008 and 2009. The Fighting Scots advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II football playoffs where Harris set a Division II playoff record with 630 passing yards against West Liberty.
• Edinboro averaged at least 30 points per game from 2007-09 and consistently ranked among Division II’s top offenses with Yurcich calling plays.
• Yurcich is a 1999 graduate of California University in Pennsylvania. He spent three seasons as the school’s starting quarterback and was a two-year captain. He began his playing career at Mount Union College. He earned a degree in psychology at California and a master’s degree in education from St. Francis, where he picked up a school counseling license.
Personal
• Yurcich is a native of Euclid, Ohio. His wife, Julie, was an All-America cross country athlete at Edinboro. They have two sons, Jack and Clay, and a daughter, Maria.
Year By Year
1999-2002: Saint Francis (Ind.) - RB in 1999; QBs/JV from 2000-01; Offensive Coord./QBs/JV in 20022003-04: Indiana - Offensive Grad Assistant
2005-10: Edinboro - QB/WR in 2005; Offensive Coord./QBs, WR from 2006-10
2011-12: Shippensburg - Offensive Coord./QBs
2013-pres.: Oklahoma State - Offensive Coord./QBs
Bowl Games
2014 Cotton Bowl2015 Cactus Bowl
2016 Sugar Bowl
2016 Alamo Bowl
2017 Camping World Bowl
2018 Liberty Bowl
Prominent Pupils
Marcell Ateman, Oakland RaidersChris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Joseph Randle, Dallas Cowboys
Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers
Justice Hill, Oklahoma State
Clint Chelf, Oklahoma State
Trevor Harris, Edinboro
Zach Zulli, Shippensburg
Mike Gundy Postgame - Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa (9-19-2025)
Saturday, September 20
Cowboy Football Ch. 3: Trailer vs Tulsa - Turnpike Classic
Friday, September 19
The Mike Gundy Show: Tulsa Game Preview
Thursday, September 18
Mike Gundy Previews Cowboys vs. Tulsa - Oklahoma State News Conference (9-15-2025)
Tuesday, September 16
