Mark Mangino out as offensive coordinator

Offensive coordinator Mark Mangino coaches from the sidelines during the game against Kansas State on Sept. 6 at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones led for much of the game but couldn’t maintain their lead in the second half, and the Wildcats won 32-28.

Ryan Young and Luke Manderfeld
October 25, 2015

UPDATED: ISU coach Paul Rhoads announced Monday that Mark Mangino is out as offensive coordinator. 

Rhoads broke the news in his weekly Monday press conference, but did not specify whether Mangino resigned or was let go by Rhoads. He did say, though, that Mangino did not like the changes that were being made with the offense. 

“I had to make a change at offensive coordinator this morning,” Rhoads said. “Mark and I couldn’t get on the same page on a few important items. We tried to talk that through again this morning in an effort to get us moving in a different direction. In the end, Mark was not interested in that. I wish that wasn’t the case.”

Quarterback coach Todd Sturdy will take over as offensive coordinator for the rest of the season, according to tweets from the press conference. Tommy Mangino, Mark’s son, will remain on staff as the wide receivers coach.

Athletic Director Jamie Pollard went on the radio on the Murph and Andy Show on 1460 KXNO Des Moines Monday to talk about his involvement with Mangino’s departure and what he believes went into Rhoads’ decision.

“I wasn’t in the room, so I don’t know exactly whether you would say it was dismissed or mutual,” Pollard said on the show. “What I do know is that they were not on the same page. Coach Rhoads wanted him to do several things that coach Mangino just didn’t want to do. He was committed to doing it his way, and in the end, you can only have one football coach. That’s what resulted in their parting ways”

Quarterback Joel Lanning, who was promoted to the starting job Monday, said he found out about the news when he arrived at the Bergstrom Sports Complex for interviews Monday morning when Director of Communications Mike Green alerted him. And while he is surprised by the decision, he said the team still needs to keep going.  

“It’s up to coach Rhoads,” Lanning said. “Coach Mangino was good. I don’t know what his reasons were for that or anything, but you just have to move on.”

Rhoads also said that he told the media before he alerted the players, which he planned to do at a 1:30 p.m. meeting Monday afternoon. Players found out about the news on Twitter shortly after the news broke.

“Obviously coach waited for a reason,” Lanning said. “I don’t really know why. I don’t know why he wanted to wait. … Who knows?”

Pollard defended Rhoads’ decision to tell the media first, though, saying on the radio that it would have been nearly impossible logistically to tell the team first.

“There is no perfect way to do this,” Pollard said on the show. “In the end, coach Mangino and coach Rhoads were the first, obviously, that had to know about it. Then Paul had to go do his press conferences and wanted to be able to tell the team in person. You just deal with it as best you can. Is it perfect that you didn’t get to tell the team first? No. But in this particular set of fact circumstances I don’t know any other way you would have cut it without short-siding somebody.”

Offensive lineman Brock Dagel watched the beginning of the press conference from his apartment and turned to the television when Rhoads made his announcement. 

“It is surprising,” Dagel said. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over my years here is that things in college football move fast. Lot of things happen.” 

Moving forward, Dagel said he’s going to move on and focus on next week’s game against Texas. 

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you’ve got to move on fast,” Dagel said. “You’ve kind of got to ignore everything else around you and get with your preparation, so I have full faith in Todd Sturdy being our new [offensive coordinator].”