- Broyles Award Semifinalist (2021 at Pittsburgh)
- AFCA Division I-AA National Coach of the Year (1998 at UMass)
Quarterback Casey Thompson ranked in the top 25 nationally in passing yards per completion (12th) and passing yards per attempt (14th). Wide receiver Trey Palmer ranked in the top 25 nationally in receiving touchdowns (19th), receiving yards per game (21st) and receiving yards (1,043). Palmer set a school record with 1,043 receiving yards in 2022.
During his 40-year coaching career, Whipple won a national championship as a head coach and a Super Bowl as an assistant coach.
Whipple accumulated 21 years of head coaching experience before joining Nebraska. He had also been an offensive coordinator for 10 seasons and coached six years in the National Football League. Whipple owned a 137-103 record in his 21 seasons as a college head coach. He won a national championship in 1998, leading Massachusetts to the Division I-AA title when he was the national coach of the year.
Whipple previously had been an offensive coordinator at three Power Five programs. Before coming to Nebraska, he helped Pitt win the 2021 ACC title by leading a Panther offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense, passing offense and total offense.
As a quarterbacks coach, Whipple helped Kenny Pickett win the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, and he coached Ben Roethlisberger when Roethlisberger was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004.
Before Nebraska
PITT: Whipple spent three seasons as Pitt’s offensive coordinator prior to coming to Nebraska. His Pitt offense ranked among the nation’s most prolific units in his final season in 2021. The Panthers ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense (41.4 ppg, 3rd), total offense (486.6 ypg, 8th), passing offense (337.4 ypg, 8th) and passing efficiency (8th). Pitt scored more than 40 points eight times in 2021 and converted 88 percent of its red-zone trips into scores.
Individually, the Panther offense featured two of the nation’s top skill players. Senior quarterback Kenny Pickett thrived under Whipple’s coaching. A Heisman Trophy finalist, Pickett threw for 4,319 yards to rank sixth nationally in that category, and he was fourth nationally with 42 touchdown passes and ninth in the nation in passing efficiency. Receiver Jordan Addison led the nation with 17 receiving touchdowns, while ranking fourth in the country with 1,593 receiving yards and sixth with 100 receptions. Addison was a first-team All-American and the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wide receiver
UMASS (HEAD COACH): Whipple spent the previous five seasons (2014-18) as the head coach at UMass, his second stint as head coach at the school after also guiding the Minutemen from 1998 to 2003. Overall, Whipple owns a school record 65 wins at UMass and guided the school to a Division I-AA (now FCS) title in 1998, and to three NCAA playoff appearances. Whipple won three conference titles with the Minutemen, and he produced a pair of 10-2 seasons.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Whipple was an offensive assistant for three NFL teams, most recently the Browns in 2011 and 2012. As the Browns’ quarterbacks coach, Whipple helped Colt McCoy throw for a career-high 2,733 yards in 2011. The next season, Whipple helped Brandon Weeden pass for a career-high 3,385 yards.
MIAMI: Whipple’s first stint as an FBS offensive coordinator came at Miami in 2009 and 2010, when he also served as the Hurricanes’ Assistant Head Coach. Miami ranked in the top 30 nationally in scoring offense in 2009, and the Hurricanes were 31st nationally in total offense in 2010.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Whipple spent the 2008 season as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles under Head Coach Andy Reid. He helped the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Whipple spent three seasons as the quarterbacks coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2004 to 2006, during Ben Roethlisberger’s first three NFL seasons. In 2004, Roethlisberger was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and in 2005 Whipple helped the Steelers capture the Super Bowl.
BROWN (HEAD COACH): Whipple led Brown, his alma mater, to a 24-16 record in his three seasons as head coach from 1994 to 1997. He bookended his stint at Brown with 7-3 seasons.
NEW HAVEN (HEAD COACH): Whipple’s first head coaching job came at Division II New Haven. He spent six seasons with the Chargers, guiding New Haven to a 48-17 record while his team earned five top-20 rankings. Whipple guided the Chargers to the Division II playoffs in each of his final two seasons, including a semifinal appearance in 1992. The Chargers posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in Whipple’s final two years, combining for a 23-2 record in those two seasons.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Whipple served as New Hampshire’s offensive coordinator in 1986 and 1987. With the Wildcats, Whipple coached players who ended their careers as New Hampshire’s all-time leading rusher, receiver and second-leading passer.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS: Whipple’s first coaching stint in the professional ranks came with the Arizona Wranglers of the USFL in 1984. That season, he helped the Wranglers win the conference title and play for the USFL championship.
BROWN: Before later becoming Brown’s head coach, Whipple spent the 1983 season coaching the Bears’ wide receivers.
UNION: Whipple served as the offensive coordinator for Union College in 1981 and 1982. He helped the Dutchmen to an 8-1 record in 1982.
ST. LAWRENCE: Whipple began his career as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence in 1980.
Playing Career (Brown)
Whipple was a quarterback at Brown from 1976 to 1979, where he was a teammate of Nebraska senior offensive analyst Ron Brown. Whipple earned his degree from Brown in 1979.
Personal
A New York native, Whipple earned his degree from Brown in 1979. He and his wife Brenda have two children, Spencer and Austin.
Coaching Career
2022: Nebraska, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks2019-21: Pitt, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2014-18: Massachusetts, Head Coach
2011-12: Cleveland Browns, Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks)
2009-10: Miami, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2008: Philadelphia Eagles, Assistant Coach
2004-06: Pittsburgh Steelers, Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks)
1998-2003: Massachusetts, Head Coach
1994-97: Brown, Head Coach
1988-93: New Haven, Head Coach
1986-87: New Hampshire, Offensive Coordinator
1984: Arizona Wranglers (USFL), Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks)
1983: Brown, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)
1981-82: Union, Offensive Coordinator
1980: St. Lawrence, Assistant Coach