Oklahoma State football: Mike Yurcich hired as Cowboys offensive coordinator

“He played quarterback and has been a student of the position as well as a student of offensive football for 14 years. He will be in place immediately to start getting prepared for spring football.”

Yurcich takes over an OSU offense that was still wildly productive in 2012, despite injuries causing the Cowboys to start three quarterbacks in Wes Lunt, J.W. Walsh and Clint Chelf. The Cowboys ranked in the top 10 in the nation in total offense (547 yards per game), passing offense (331.69 yards per game) and scoring offense (45.69 points per game).

“Joining the program at OklahomaState is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family,” Yurcich said in a release. “I am excited to continue the offensive firepower that has been in place at OSU for many years. I’ve often admired the OSU system and I’m looking forward to learning and then teaching the OklahomaState offense.”

One early task for Yurcich, who will also be the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach, will be sorting out another spring derby at that position.

Gundy said following the Heart of Dallas Bowl that Chelf, who started the Cowboys’ final five games, would begin as the No. 1 quarterback. But Lunt, who won the starting job as a true freshman out of spring practice last year, and Walsh, who started three games and was the Big 12’s Offensive Freshman of the Year, will challenge for the job.