Charley Molnar is in his eighth season with the Vandals, his sixth as the team's quarterbacks coach. Molnar joined Paul Petrino’s staff in 2014 and coached the receivers for two seasons before taking over the quarterbacks during the spring of 2016.
The 2021 spring season was unique for sure. In six games, Molnar and the Vandals needed four different quarterbacks to play significant minutes. Led by graduate transfer Mike Beaudry, the quarterback room included Nikhil Nayar, true freshman CJ Jordan and athlete/hybrid Zach Borisch.
Under Molnar's tutelage, quarterback Matt Linehan rewrote the Idaho record book. Linehan, a four-year starter from 2014-17, guided the Vandals to a 9-4 record in 2016 and a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The quarterback was named MVP of the bowl game to cap a junior season that included second-team All-Sun Belt honors and leading the league in passing yards (3,184). Linehan went on to become the program’s all-time leader in completions and when his senior season was cut three games short by injury, Linehan finished just shy of Doug Nussmeier’s record for career passing yards.
The 2018 season saw Molnar direct two Vandal quarterbacks through starting duties and three in game action. Mason Petrino finished the year as Idaho's leading passer with 1,933 yards and 15 touchdowns, and was third on the team with 245 rushing yards and three more scores. Colton Richardson started the season opener and ended the year with 434 yards and five touchdowns. True freshman Nayar also appeared in one game for the Vandals.
Petrino took over the reins in 2019, earning All-Big Sky Honorable Mention recognition. His senior campaign was capped with a record-setting performance at Northern Arizona, where he threw for nearly 500 yards and posted 563 yards of total offense, the most in the FCS all year.
In Molnar's first season with the Vandals, he took quarterback-turned-receiver Joshua McCain and turned him into one of the nation’s top receivers. McCain finished the season ranked 10th in receiving yards per game, 13 in receptions per game, and 16th in total receiving yards. He had similar successes with the 2015 receivers as the Vandals had one of the top 25 passing games in all of FBS.
Molnar was the head coach at the University of Massachusetts in 2012 and 2013 and was been an assistant at Notre Dame (2010-11), Cincinnati (2007-09) and Central Michigan (2006) as well as Indiana State (2005), Western Michigan (2003-04), Eastern Michigan (2002), Eastern Illinois (2001), Kent State (1994-2000), Illinois State (1990-93), Western Carolina (1989) and Virginia (1987-88). His coaching career began in 1984 at his alma mater, Lock Haven.
He has helped lead teams to seven bowl games, which includes Cincinnati’s top-five ranking and Sugar Bowl appearance in the 2009 season. His career includes two seasons as a head coach, 11 as an offensive coordinator and 17 as a quarterbacks coach. Under Molnar’s guidance, players and teams set records in the passing game everywhere he has been. Both quarterbacks and receivers have been ranked among the NCAA’s best.
Molnar helped Notre Dame earn two bowl game bids in 2010 and 2011 thanks in part to the play of quarterback Tommy Rees. In 2010, his first year with the Irish, Molnar helped install a new offensive system and developed both Dayne Crist and Rees as first-time starting quarterbacks. Under Molnar’s tutelage, Rees set Notre Dame freshman records in touchdown passes (12) and completion percentage (61.0). He also ranked in the top five among freshman Irish quarterbacks in completions (third, 100), yards (second, 1,106) and passing efficiency (second, 132.70).
From 2006-09, Molnar was at Cincinnati and Central Michigan and helped develop record-breaking quarterbacks and wide receivers. With the Bearcats, he oversaw the two most prolific passing seasons in Cincinnati history and mentored a pair of record-setting receivers.
Prior to Cincinnati, Molnar was at Central Michigan staff in 2006 when he helped the Chippewas win 10 games for the first time since 1979. Central Michigan won its Mid-American Conference division, the MAC championship and was victorious in the Motor City Bowl. Molnar completed a rare coaching feat at the conclusion of the 2006 season. Not only was he on the sidelines for 15 contests, including the 2006 MAC Championship Game, 2006 Motor City Bowl and 2007 International Bowl, but he coached the MVP in all three postseason games. Molnar directed another record-setting quarterback during his only season at Indiana State in 2005. He coached quarterbacks from 2003-04 at Western Michigan and was forced to develop multiple signal-callers each season.
A one-year stop at Eastern Michigan in 2002 as quarterbacks coach followed a one-year stint as wide receivers coach at Eastern Illinois in 2001. From 1990-2000, Molnar spent time as an offensive coordinator as well as working with quarterbacks and wide receivers at two universities. He spent seven seasons at Kent State (1994-2000) after he worked in the same position at Illinois State from 1990-93.
Prior to Illinois State, Molnar called the offensive plays and coached quarterbacks at Western Carolina in 1989. He made his first foray into major college football as a graduate assistant in 1987-88 at Virginia. With the Cavaliers, he assisted the quarterbacks coach. Molnar’s first coaching job came at his alma mater, Lock Haven University. From 1984-86 he worked with the wide receivers, tight ends, running backs and kickers.
