Akron football names nine finalists for offensive coordinator contest
· Yahoo Sports
Names are now connected in a meaningful way to the University of Akron football program's "Offensive Coordinator of the Game" promotion.
During a news conference held at House Three Thirty on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Akron officials disclosed nine finalists who are hoping to help Zips coach Joe Moorhead script UA's opening possession of its 2026 home opener against Robert Morris on Saturday, Sept. 12, at InfoCision Stadium.
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Here are the nine finalists:
Akron football names nine finalists for its 'Offensive Coordinator of the Game' contest
Akron athletic director Andrew T. Goodrich reached out to the finalists before the news conference on Aug. 19. Their identities were announced in the following order:
- Brandon Wigen of Bellevue, Nebraska
- Dan "Big Cat" Katz of Barstool Sports fame
- Jack Rooney of Long Island, New York
- James Bordeaux of Kentucky
- Martin Alan Whims II of Akron (former UA student)
- Mike Beck Jr. (longtime Zips football season-ticket holder)
- Sean Struncius of Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey (now based in Kansas City, Missouri)
- Steve Moyer (1989 UA graduate and longtime Zips football season-ticket holder)
- Tim Sharfman of Austin, Texas
- A 10th candidate was selected but withdrew from the contest, according to UA
Calls being made to Top Finalists for OC of the Game now📞👀#GoZips🦘#MakeTheClimbpic.twitter.com/8yUriOo61y
— Akron Football (@ZipsFB) August 19, 2026
When will Akron Zips football announce the winner of its offensive coordinator contest?
The "Offensive Coordinator of the Game" winner will be named on Tuesday, Aug. 25, Goodrich said. The winner has already been drawn but not revealed to the public.
"To the best of our knowledge, this has never been done before," Goodrich said of the contest.
According to Akron, UA's College of Business — Department of Accounting is managing the balloting and selection process for the contest to ensure a randomized selection.
Make history and be the lucky season ticket holder to design the opening drive of the home opener when @ZipsFB hosts Robert Morris‼️
— Akron Football (@ZipsFB) August 4, 2026
🗞️https://t.co/G5aTUlVpzT#GoZips🦘#MakeTheClimbpic.twitter.com/Qzu1w0R29O
How did fans get a chance to become Akron Zips offensive coordinator?
On Aug. 4, Akron announced on social media a season-ticket holder selected through a random drawing would be able to script the offense's opening drive of UA's 2026 home opener.
As of Aug. 19, the tweet announcing the promotion had received more than 23 million views. According to UA, the contest has resulted in the school selling out InfoCision Stadium's suites for the first time and has yielded a record number of new season-ticket memberships.
Is Akron football going to let a fan call plays?
Will a Zips fan really call plays in the team's upcoming home opener? Fine print on Akron's social media graphic explaining the contest reads, "With the head coach of course. This hasn't been done before but we're not crazy."
The stipulation didn't dampen the football community's enthusiasm about UA's marketing idea. The promotion became a national story, with the coverage including an Aug. 6 appearance by Moorhead on "The Pat McAfee Show." In addition to Dan "Big Cat" Katz, McAfee and Jon Gruden are among the celebrities in sports media who indicated they purchased Akron season tickets to enter the contest.
The winner will meet with Moorhead ahead of Akron's home opener to assist him with scripting the plays for the offense's opening series. Moorhead will soon enter his fifth season as head coach of the Zips. He also calls the offensive plays, and Akron doesn't have an assistant coach who holds the title of offensive coordinator.
"I'm looking forward to collaborating with the season ticket holder who wins this contest," Moorhead said in a news release. "This will give our fans a behind-the-scenes experience that has never been done before anywhere, so I'm excited to show them how to put together the opening script and see what they can do."
When does Akron's football season start?
Akron is scheduled to open its 2026 season on the road against Wake Forest at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3.
UA's home opener featuring the input of the contest winner is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, against Robert Morris.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron football names nine finalists for offensive coordinator contest