Coach Rich Skrosky discusses implementing the new offense for the Panthers

By Brett Shweky/Sports Director

The past off-season for the FIU football team has featured numerous coaching changes, including the addition of Rich Skrosky. Coach Skrosky, who most recently spent the past three years as the head coach at Elon, will serve as the Panthers’ offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.

Skrosky, who has coached for nearly 30 years, brings much needed experience to the program. As an offensive coordinator, Skrosky has managed to oversee multiple team and individual record-setting performances.

Coming into FIU, Skrosky explained that the first step to implementing the new offense was set the groundwork and build up from there.

“I think initially you have to set the foundation of the offense and I have to give the staff and the kids [the players] credit,” said Skrosky. “They have been absolutely phenomenal since we first got here in early January. They have done a great job embracing the base of the it [the offense]. Our base formations, our base tempo, our base plays, they have all really done a great job absorbing everything.”

Before serving as the head coach at Elon, Skrosky was the offensive coordinator at Ball State from 2011 to 2013. During this span, Skrosky was nominated twice for the Broyles Award, an award presented to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Ball State’s offense under Skrosky managed to put up more than 450 yards-per-game and more than 35 points-per-game in two out of the three years he was there. Skrosky assisted the Cardinals to a 25-12 record in his three season with the team and also back-to-back bowl appearances.

During his time as Elon’s offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2010, he helped the Phoenix have a sixth ranked passing offense in the nation by averaging 291.5 passing-yards-per-game. Skrosky’s offensive system also helped Elon reach their first ever Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoff appearance.

As Skrosky transitions to the new offensive coordinator for the Panthers, his past coaching experiences will play a factor in trying to improve FIU’s passing game from the previous season.

In the 2016 season, FIU averaged a total of 375.3 yards-per-game as their opponents averaged 433.8 yards-per-game. The Panthers’ passing attack averaged a dismal 226.67 yards-per-game while running game averaged an impressive 148.6 rushing-yards-per-game.

Quarterback Alex McGough discussed that he believes Coach Skrosky has done an outstanding job connecting with the players so far.

“He’s an amazing guy, I really respect him as a coach and a person,” said McGough. “He’s really a hands on type of coach. He really knows how to connect with us [the players]. So far I really like him. I like how he coaches me and how he can get in my head and motivate me. He’s definitely more of a teacher than a coach.

With the season rapidly approaching, only time will tell if the addition of Coach Skrosky will have a significant impact the Panthers’ offense. FIU will travel to Orlando, Florida, on August 31 to take on the University of Central Florida Golden Knights to open the 2017 campaign. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.