PSU Football
News & Information
News—Dec. 9, 2025—Updated 1-10
List of Penn State Coaches/Staffers Departing for New Jobs
Ty Howle (PSU TE Coach/Co-OC)—On3 reports on Dec. 9 that Howle will become the new Offensive Coordinator/Play Caller for James Franklin at Virginia Tech—Howle had been at Penn State since 2020 (first as an Offensive Analyst) and since 2021 as the TE Coach (he became Co-OC in 2022)—Howle is known for developing Penn State Tight Ends Tyler Warren, Theo Johnson, & Brenton Strange—Howle played at PSU from 2009-2013 as a Left Guard/Center under Joe Paterno & Bill O’Brien—His bio is missing from PSU website indicating he is no longer with the team
Danny O’Brien (PSU QB Coach)—Dec. 9, reportedly heading to Virginia Tech to join James Franklin as his QB Coach—O’Brien played QB under Franklin when he was the OC at Maryland—Danny had been with PSU since 2021 and had been the QB Coach tutoring Drew Allar for the past two seasons—His bio is missing from the PSU football website indicating he is no longer with the team
Stan Drayton (PSU RB Coach)—Dec. 11, Drayton is named RB Coach at South Carolina—Drayton, a former head coach at Temple, was only on the PSU staff for the 2025 season after replacing Ja’Juan Seider who left for the same position at Notre Dame—Drayton has also been an assistant at several college notably Texas & Ohio State—He will remain at PSU through the Pinstripe Bowl
Jim Knowles (PSU DC)—Dec. 10, On3 & CBS Sports report Knowles has been informed by Matt Campbell he will not return in 2026—He moves to Tennessee to become their DC (officially hired Dec. 11)—Knowles was in his first season at PSU after coming from Ohio State—Prior to a re-negotiation, PSU had owed approximately $7 million in buyout money to Knowles who had 2 years left on a contract that made him the highest paid DC in college football—Bio is missing from PSU football website indicating he is no longer with the team
Anthony Poindexter (PSU Co-DC/Safeties Coach)—Dec. 16, reported to be candidate for a position at Tennessee with Jim Knowles—Poindexter will remain at PSU through the Pinstripe Bowl game serving as DC—has been with Penn State since 2021 season—Will move to Tennessee for 2026 season
Phil Trautwein (PSU OL Coach)—departing for same position at his alma mater Florida—has been at PSU since 2020 season—He will coach PSU at Pinstripe Bowl
Andy Kotelnicki (PSU OC)—not retained by Matt Campbell for 2026—Has been with PSU for 2 seasons—He will remain at Penn state through the Pinstripe Bowl—Will return to Kansas as the Jayhawks Associate Head Coach
Marques Hagans (PSU WR Coach/Offensive Recruiting Coordinator)—not retained by Matt Campbell for 2026—He will coach PSU at Pinstripe Bowl—Media reports on Jan. 1 say he will join the staff at Michigan
Deion Barnes (PSU DL Coach)—Revealed Dec. 23, that he would be moving on to South Carolina to become the Gamecocks DE/OLB Coach—Barnes is a former PSU letterman (2012-14) and was Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2012— Has been with Penn State as a coach since 2020 (became DL Coach in 2023)—He will coach in the Pinstripe Bowl
Andrew Jackson (PSU Assistant Defensive Line Coach)—hired Jan. 2 by Tennessee (by Jim Knowles DC) as their Outside Linebackers Coach—Jackson was only at PSU for the 2025 season after 4 seasons at West Virginia
Charles Walker (PSU Asst. RB Coach)—Per media on Jan. 4, he is moving to Central Michigan as RB Coach—had spent previous four years at PSU under Franklin
Greg Gattuso (PSU Sr. Defensive Line Analyst)—status unknown/no longer listed in PSU staff directory—spent 1 season at PSU where he also played 1980-83 under Paterno (was also PSU Grad Asst. in 1984)—former FCS Head Coach at Albany & Duquesne
Allen Tucker (PSU Special Teams Assistant)—not retained by Campbell
Kenny Sanders (PSU Director of Player Personnel)—Announced Jan. 6 that he was no longer with the PSU football program after 4 years in his current role—CBS Sports reported Jan. 7 Sanders would be hired by Notre Dame as Assistant General Manager, and will take former PSU Recruiting Assistant DJ Bryant with him
Rashad Rich (PSU Assistant Recruiting Coordinator)—Announced on social media Jan. 7 that he was now with Colorado
Jeff Earls (PSU Director of Athletic Performance)—Joining Virginia Tech as Director of Football Performance
Andrew Nelson (PSU Director of Performance Science)—not retained by Campbell—former PSU Offensive Tackle (2013-17)
