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Iowa State University Athletics
Quartaro Accepts Offensive Coordinator Job at Kansas
12.16.2001 | Football
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State assistant head coach Nick Quartaro, who oversaw the Cyclones' wide receivers and some ISU special teams, has been named the offensive coordinator at Kansas by new Jayhawk head coach Mark Mangino. Quartaro, has been on the Iowa State staff for the last four seasons and will stay in Ames as a part of the Cyclone coaching staff through the New Year, including the Dec. 27 Independence Bowl game against Alabama in Shreveport, La.
"This is a great opportunity for me," Quartaro said. "Earning the chance to work as an offensive coordinator in a Big 12 program is a professional move that I can't turn down. None of this would have been possible without the great support Dan McCarney has given me throughout the last four years. I am proud to have been a part of this exciting time here at Iowa State, taking this program to a pair of bowl games and 16 wins over the past two seasons. Our family has truly enjoyed our time in Ames and we will miss all the friends we have here and the student-athletes I have coached."
Quartaro's steadying influence on Iowa State's wide receivers has been profound. In 2001, sophomore Lane Danielsen and senior Craig Campbell continued their own personal development, combining for 80 receptions for 1,180 yards and six touchdowns. Under Quartaro's guidance, Tony Yelk was the nation's top freshman punter this fall, averaging 43.8 yards per kick, the second-best single-season mark in school history. Iowa State ranked 27th nationally in net punting.
"I named Nick assistant head coach when he came to ISU and you can't underscore enough the difference he has made for us," Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney said. "I also understand that this is a unique professional opportunity for him to be an offensive coordinator. When you have success, people will look to hire individuals from your coaching staff. This is a great chance for Nick and it affirms the success we have had at Iowa State the past two seasons."
Iowa State was 9-3 last season, including the school's first bowl victory ever, a 37-29 decision over Pittsburgh in the Insight.com Bowl. The nine wins were the most at ISU since 1906. The Cyclones followed that campaign with a 7-4 season this fall and a second straight bowl berth.
Wide receiver Chris Anthony, who ranks fifth in ISU history with 114 career receptions and sixth with 1,371 career receiving yards, played under Quartaro. Quartaro also coached Cyclone J.J. Moses, who developed into one of the Big 12 Conference's leading receivers in 2000, making 53 receptions - the most by a Cyclone since 1987. His 775 receiving yards that season rank sixth on the all-time ISU single-season charts. Iowa State began the 1998 season without a returnee at wide receiver. Under Quartaro, junior college transfer Damien Groce had an all-Big 12 season and combined with Anthony to catch more balls than the much-heralded 1997 receiving duo of Ty Watley and Ed Williams.
McCarney said a national search for Quartaro's replacement will begin immediately.
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