Football 2/25/2008 5:14:00 PM

McCarty Named Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach

ELON, N.C. – Elon University Head Football Coach Pete Lembo announced today that Mike McCarty has been named an assistant football coach for the Phoenix. As the new Elon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, McCarty replaces Warren Ruggiero who resigned earlier this month to become the quarterbacks coach at Kansas State University.

McCarty spent the last four seasons (2004-07) as the wide receivers coach at Arkansas State University, where he helped the Indians to earn the Sun Belt Conference championship and a New Orleans Bowl appearance in 2005. He mentored a receiving corps that paced Arkansas State to 2,246 aerial yards in 2007 – the second-highest total in the program’s history.

“I am thrilled to have Mike joining our coaching staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach,” Lembo said. “He has an outstanding reputation as a detailed teacher, an aggressive recruiter and in running the no-huddle offense. Perhaps more importantly, he is well respected by his peers for his character, integrity and values. I am confident that he will add significant value to our entire football program.”

Prior to coming to Arkansas State, McCarty served three seasons (2001-03) as the associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Stony Brook University, two seasons (1999-2000) as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Nicholls State University, two seasons (1997-98) as the wide receivers coach at Troy University and one season (1996) as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Illinois State University.

“I am extremely excited about this opportunity to work for Pete Lembo and build on the progress that has been made here,” McCarty said. “I hope that we can pick up where Warren Ruggiero left off, push the envelope and become a permanent fixture at the top of the Southern Conference.”

Prior to arriving at Illinois State, McCarty worked two seasons (1994-95) as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Hofstra University and two seasons (1992-93) as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Southeast Missouri State University. He helped two teams to make NCAA-IAA Playoff appearances – Hofstra in 1995 and Troy in 1998. Hofstra ranked third in the nation in total offense in 1995.

McCarty began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon for three seasons (1988-1990) before becoming the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon Tech University in 1991. He helped Oregon to earn an Independence Bowl appearance in 1988.

“With 11 years under his belt as a coordinator and quarterbacks coach in similar offensive systems, Mike has the knowledge and experience to analyze our current personnel and schemes to identify areas where we can improve,” Lembo said. “He also has the confidence, charisma and sincerity to motivate our student-athletes to perform at a high level. I am confident that we can continue the success that our offense is enjoying under Mike’s leadership.”

As a wide receiver, McCarty lettered two seasons for coach Rich Brooks at Oregon before lettering two seasons for coach Don McCarty, his father, at Lewis & Clark College. Married to his high school sweetheart for just over 20 years, McCarty and wife Kim have two children – daughter Macy Ann (16) and son Beau (13).

Elon will enter its 87th football season next fall as well as its 10th campaign as an official NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision member and sixth year in the Southern Conference. The 2008 season will include the eighth Phoenix home schedule in Rhodes Stadium.

In 2007, No. 23 Elon (7-4) led the Southern Conference in passing for the second consecutive campaign. The Phoenix finished second nationally at the FCS level in passing offense (357.0 yards per game), ninth in scoring offense (36.4 points per game), 16th in passing efficiency (147.51 rating) and 19th in total offense (421.6 yards per game) last season.

– ELON –

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