Ralph Friedgen is not expected to return as Rutgers offensive coordinator for the 2015 season, two people familiar with the decision process told NJ Advance Media on Monday.

The people requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about athletic department personnel.

Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood didn't immediately respond to two requests for comment, including one made through a school spokesperson, but the two people told NJ Advance Media that Friedgen is leaning toward not returning and Flood's plan is to announce his new offensive coordinator at the same time as acknowledging Friedgen's retirement.

Reached on his cell phone after news of Friedgen's expected departure broke, Flood declined comment but said he would likely hold a teleconference on the situation Tuesday.

Lured out of retirement after a successful head-coaching stint at Maryland last year with a two-year contract worth $500,000 annually, Friedgen hinted that he wouldn't return for his second season as Rutgers offensive coordinator following the Scarlet Knights' regular-season finale at Maryland.

"I'm getting up in age,'' Friedgen said last November. "Some things are a little tougher for me than others. I'm going to sit back after the season and kind of reflect on everything.''

While Friedgen has been unavailable for comment since then, Flood has said he expects his 67-year old play-caller to return. Pressed by NJ Advance Media for an update following his Signing Day news conference last week, Flood said, "As of right now, Ralph Friedgen is our offensive coordinator.''

If Friedgen steps aside, it would mean Rutgers will hire its sixth offensive coordinator in as many years.

If Flood opts to stay in-house for his next play-caller, wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels would likely be the top choice to succeed Friedgen, who directed a Rutgers attack that ranked ninth in the Big Ten in scoring offense (25.6 points-per-game) and seventh in total offense (378.8 yards-per-game) during an 8-5 campaign.

McDaniels arrived last year after serving as an offensive assistant on Greg Schiano's Tampa Bay Buccaneers team the previous two seasons. Prior to that, McDaniels — the brother of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels — served as quarterbacks coach and as an offensive assistant with the Denver Broncos for two years.

Hired on Jan. 31, 2014, Friedgen earned $489,995 during the last fiscal year, according to university payroll records. McDaniels, who received a two-year deal worth $200,000 annually when he was hired Feb. 10, 2014, earned $194,480 in 2014.

Friedgen follows a line of offensive play-callers who lasted one season: Kirk Ciarrocca, Frank Cignetti, Dave Brock and Ron Prince.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.