Charlie Frye - Football Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Photo by: Andy Sneddon

Charlie Frye

Title:
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Email:
frye1c@cmich.edu
Phone:
(989) 774-3896

Second-year Central Michigan offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye leads a high-powered unit that meshes an explosive passing game with a solid running attack.

Frye, who joined coach Jim McElwain’s staff in February, 2019, led a unit that ranked third in rushing yards per game in the Mid-American Conference in 2020 behind the strong one-two punch of Kobe Lewis and Lew Nichols III.

Nichols, who led CMU with 508 rushing yards during the six-game season, was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Chippewa to be so honored since 2007. Nichols ranked seventh in the conference while Lewis was eighth with 468 and was third in the league with six rushing touchdowns.

Frye’s offense produced the longest play of the 2020 season in the MAC, and 82-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ty Brock against Ball State. CMU produced the third-longest play and the fifth-longest play as well: A 69-yard Lewis run vs. Western Michigan and a 68-yard Nichols run at Toledo.

The Chippewa offense featured the electrifying Kalil Pimpleton, a wide receiver who also can throw the ball and is a threat in the return game. Pimpleton earned Second Team All-MAC honors after making 26 catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns, rushing 16 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns, and completing five of eight pass attempts for 149 yards and one touchdown.

Pimpleton along with tackle Derek Smith each earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team.

Twice in 2020 Pimpleton was named to the Hornung Award Honor Roll, a weekly list featuring players from across the nation who stand out for their versatility. Lewis was also named to the prestigious honor roll, giving Frye’s offense three honorees in a six-game season.

In 2019, Frye’s offense led the MAC in with 6,070 yards as CMU won the MAC West Division championship, earned a spot in the MAC Championship Game for the first time since 2009, and then earned a berth in the New Mexico Bowl.

Frye is an integral member of a coaching staff that inherited a CMU program that won one game in 2018 and transformed it immediately into a winner, as the Chippewas finished 8-6 in 2019. The seven-win improvement was the best among FBS programs in 2019.

Frye’s 2019 offense produced 424 points, the fourth-highest total in program history, ranked second in the MAC in passing yardage, and had two backs rush for more than 1,000 yards for the first time in program history.

The Chippewas led the MAC in total offense in 2019, producing significant increases from 2018 in every statistical category including scoring average, rushing yardage, passing yardage, and total offense. Frye’s 2019 Chippewa offense averaged 30.1 points per game, more than double that of the 2018 unit.

Pimpleton, fellow wide receiver JaCorey Sullivan and Lewis, who rushed for 1,074 yards and 15 touchdowns, earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2019.

Frye was a standout quarterback at Akron before going on to play in the NFL from 2005-09. He was drafted in the third round by the Cleveland Browns and played for the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders in addition to the Browns during his NFL career.

Among Frye’s professional protégés are Julian Edelman, who played collegiately at Kent State and is now with the New England Patriots. Frye served as a consultant as well as the director of player development under McElwain at Florida from 2015-17.

Frye holds a bachelor of science degree with a major in exercise science from Akron.

Charlie Frye coach resumé
2019-20: Central Michigan (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2018: Ashland (wide receivers)
2015-17: Florida (consultant/director of player development)
2013-17: Nike The Opening Combine (quarterback coach/offensive coordinator)
2012-13: Jones (Orlando, Fla.) High School (offensive coordinator)
2014-15: Wekiva (Apopka, Fla.) High School (offensive coordinator)