It's probably going to happen one day. A university athletic director is going to call Akron and ask for permission to talk to Joe Moorhead about a head football coaching position.

"I'm not worried about that right now," said Moorhead, the offensive coordinator at the University of Akron and a Central Catholic High School graduate. "I couldn't ask for a better situation than the one I'm in."

That's probably true. Moorhead is headed into his fifth season on the Zips' staff and his third year as offensive coordinator. He went to Akron with current head coach J.D. Brookhart.

"I knew J.D. from when I was at Pitt," Moorhead said. "When he went to Akron it just seemed like a good opportunity."

After an outstanding career as a three-year starter at quarterback at Fordham, where he set a number of school passing records that still stand, Moorhead was a graduate assistant at Pitt for 1998-99 seasons. He worked with the linebackers and met Brookhart, who was an offensive assistant with the Panthers and then head coach Walt Harris.

Following his stint at Pitt, Moorhead joined the staff at Georgetown and was the offensive coordinator in 2003. That year, the Hoyas improved in every major statistical category from the previous season.

When he first went to Akron, Moorhead tutored the wide receivers and made an immediate impact.

In 2006, the Zips had one of the most successful receiving corps in school history. The group was headed by Domenik Hixon, who set a school record with 1,210 receiving yards on 75 catches.

In 2006, Moorhead was a major contributor to the play of quarterback Luke Getsy, a Steel Valley High School product who owned 24 school records when he graduated.

Getsy, who is back at Akron as a graduate assistant, was signed as a free agent by the San Francisco 49ers that following spring.

Last season, Moorhead's offense produced receiver Jabari Arthur, a fourth-team All-American who is the Zips all-time leading receiver with 2,553 yards.

"It's not just me. J.D. is a good guy to work for and we've got a lot of unfinished business to take care of," Moorhead said. "I'm 34, so I've got plenty of time."

Perhaps Moorhead's most important role has been as a recruiter. He helped Akron land the top-rated recruiting classes in the Mid-American Conference in 2005 and '06.

"I've done Western Pennsylvania since day one," he said of recruiting. "It's a chance for me to get back home and see some old friends. I know a lot of the coaches in the area and being from there helps."

After two solid seasons -- Akron went 6-5 in 2004 and 7-6 in '05 -- the Zips have slipped to 5-7 and 4-8 the past two years.

Never one to leave a task unfinished, Moorhead is looking forward to Akron turning things around this year.

"I suppose if a head coaching position came along I'd have to think about it," he said. "But it would have to be an ideal situation."