Iowa State Fires Offensive Coordinator [VIDEO]

Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads surprised everyone today with the ouster of Offensive Coordinator Mark Mangino. Rhoads made the announcement to the media, including what led to the decision, and announced a Tipton native will take over.

Mangino coached at Kansas from 2002-2009 and was hired in January of 2014 as the Offensive Coordinator at Iowa State. In the end, Rhoads said the two were having disagreements concerning the offense. Interestingly enough, earlier today Iowa State announced that Joel Lanning will now be the starting quarterback for the Cyclones. He replaces Sam Richardson. I can't help but wonder if that's, at least partially, what led to the decision.

Rhoads has also announced that Iowa State's new Offensive Coordinator is Tipton native Todd Sturdy, who to this point in the season has been in charge of the Cyclone passing game.

The so-called experts are already saying that Mark Mangino could be the leader for the coaching vacancy at the University of Southern California (USC). However, Mangino was only 50-48 during his time at Kansas. Wait a minute, he was 50-48 at Kansas! The Jayhawks are 12-55 since he left. However, let's not forget he resigned under pressure in December of 2009.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was on the hot seat when the season began and many thought Paul Rhoads was as well. The Cyclones are 2-5 this year with a home game against 3-4 Texas this weekend, followed by a visit to Oklahoma (6-1), a home game against undefeated Oklahoma State, a trip to Kansas State (3-4) and another road trip to West Virginia (3-3). I think the Cyclones need to find two more wins on that schedule and I consider this weekend's Texas game a must-win. Rhoads won just three games in 2013 and two last year. If the Cyclones don't win at least four this year, won't Jamie Pollard be forced to make a move? If he does, it'll be a shame because Paul Rhoads seems like the perfect guy for Iowa State. Unfortunately, more fans probably felt that way during his first four years, when the Cyclones won 24 games. They've only won seven since.

[via Des Moines Register]