Mike Yurcich Deserves Every Penny of the Huge Raise He Was Just Awarded

Mike Yurcich, Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator that Mike Gundy tracked down on the internet long ago, is getting a raise. Mark Cooper of the Tulsa World reported Monday that raise is a substantial $200,000 boost to his salary.

He is now the highest-paid assistant coach in program history.

And like it or not, he’s worth every penny of the $800,000 salary he’ll pull in this year.

There is sure to be jokes flowing about his significant salary increase in the comments -– he can buy a more expansive playbook with his extra cash! ­– is one I’ve already seen tossed around. But the much maligned mastermind behind OSU’s offense is fresh off of scheming up a season that produced a ton of awards for OSU’s athletes, including the Biletnikoff for James Washington. What was Gundy going to do, demote him to water boy?

Here’s three reasons why his raise — and the obvious note that it keeps him at the helm of the offense for the foreseeable future — makes sense for OSU.

1. Yurcich is an elite QB recruiter

Yurcich doesn’t have a 100 percent hit rate, but when he hits on a QB recruit he hits big. Mason Rudolph was the most extreme example, as he landed him out of SEC country a half-decade ago. But Spencer Sanders is the most recent example.

The four-star QB will be a freshman this fall, and he recruited him to take over the reins of the offense from Rudolph. The fit should be seamless for Yurcich and Sanders, as Sanders has already praised OSU’s system as being a spitting image of the one he ran at Denton Ryan. And if he can make a strong impression in fall camp, Sanders may be an insta-starter to succeed No. 2. Many expect he’ll be a worthy challenger to Taylor Cornelius.

He may not be praised as an elite recruiter overall, but Yurcich’s ability to scout, evaluate and develop QB talent is an invaluable asset — especially for an OSU program that, under Gundy, has typically gone as the QB has gone. Keeping him in place to continue to do just that, while also not fracturing any relationships already in place with prospective student-athletes and high-schoolers, is a no-brainer.

2. OSU put up video games number last season

With a veteran QB, WR and RB duo last season, Oklahoma State finished No. 2 in total offense last season, putting up 569 yards per game, 71 total touchdowns, and 7.34 yards per play. According to Football Outsiders, OSU’s offense finished third in the S&P+ index behind only OU and UCF.

Outside of Yurcich’s second season — in an offense that boasted a putrid OL and a defunct navigational device called a Daxx Garman — OSU has finished inside the top 20 nationally annually under his watch. Which is … great. Because OSU is annually a top-20 team. So again, there was zero reason to do anything but promote the guy after the season he just had.

3. Justice Hill must be protected at all costs

I don’t know about you, but I get queasy thinking about Gundy handing the keys to the offense to, say, Doug Meacham this offseason. He might be a great OC. But for the sake of continuity, OSU needs Yurcich next season because of who he will help spring into the Heisman conversation: Justice Hill.

No. 5 is in line to shoulder a big load in 2018 with Rudolph gone and a new starter to be broken in at QB, and Yurcich has shown time and again he knows how to get the most out of him. Whether it’s running him off tackle, using him in Wildcat packages, or running him out of the backfield as an extra receiver, my confidence is irrationally high that the Lego man and No. 5 are on the same page.

After working together over the last two seasons and putting up eye-popping individual rushing numbers, Hill should be as pleased as anyone that Mikey Y. will be back, a little richer, wearing bright orange again next season.