Penn State’s Coaching Exodus: Where the Former Staff Landed After a Tumultuous 2025
When a program hits the reset button, the ripple effects are felt far and wide-and nowhere is that more evident than in State College. After the firing of head coach James Franklin following the 2025 season, Penn State saw a near-total overhaul of its football coaching staff.
While a few familiar faces are sticking around, most of the coaching roster has scattered across the college football landscape. Let’s break down where each of the former Nittany Lion assistants is headed and what it means for their next chapters.
Who’s Staying in Happy Valley?
In the midst of the turnover, a couple of key coaches are holding down the fort.
- Terry Smith, the longtime cornerbacks coach and a steady presence in the program, remains in his role. His recruiting ties and connection to the players likely made him a valuable asset to retain.
- Justin Lustig will also stay on as special teams coordinator, continuing to oversee a unit that’s been solid under his watch.
- Dan Connor, the former Nittany Lion linebacker and Penn State legend, is staying on staff as an assistant linebackers coach-a role that keeps him in the fold while potentially grooming him for bigger responsibilities down the line.
But beyond that trio, it’s a full-on coaching diaspora.
Offensive Staff: New Homes, New Roles
Andy Kotelnicki - Associate Head Coach, Kansas
After a one-year stint as Penn State’s offensive coordinator, Kotelnicki is heading back to familiar ground. He rejoins Kansas, where he previously helped engineer a turnaround as OC, this time as associate head coach.
Given the Nittany Lions’ offensive struggles in 2025, his return to Lawrence felt inevitable. It’s a reunion that makes sense for both sides.
Danny O’Brien - Quarterbacks Coach, Virginia Tech
O’Brien follows Franklin to Blacksburg, though without a title bump. He’ll reprise his role as quarterbacks coach, this time mentoring Ethan Grunkemeyer-who, notably, is also making the move from Penn State to Virginia Tech. O’Brien’s familiarity with Grunkemeyer could be a stabilizing factor as the young QB transitions into a new system.
Stan Drayton - Running Backs Coach, South Carolina
Drayton’s impact in just one season at Penn State was significant. Under his guidance, Kaytron Allen had a career year and became the program’s all-time leading rusher.
Now, Drayton is off to South Carolina, where he’ll take over as running backs coach. It’s a strong pickup for the Gamecocks, and a testament to Drayton’s ability to develop talent quickly.
Marques Hagans - Assistant WR Coach, Michigan
Hagans’ time in Happy Valley was rocky, with the wide receiver room never quite finding its rhythm. Even if Franklin had stayed, Hagans’ return was unlikely. He’s now landed at Michigan as an assistant wide receivers coach, joining a revamped staff that brought in Micah Simon from Utah to lead the position group.
Ty Howle - Offensive Coordinator, Virginia Tech
Howle is the second coach to follow Franklin to Virginia Tech, but unlike O’Brien, he gets a promotion. He’ll take over as the Hokies’ offensive coordinator and primary play-caller-his first time holding those responsibilities at the FBS level.
A Penn State alum and former letterwinner, Howle was deeply connected to the program. But with the opportunity to step up in a major way, the move makes sense.
Phil Trautwein - Offensive Line Coach, Florida
Trautwein heads back to his alma mater, Florida, to coach the offensive line. He spent six seasons in the same role at Penn State and had stretches of success, though the unit took a step back in 2025. Still, his return to Gainesville gives him a fresh start and a chance to reestablish his reputation at a place where he once starred as a player.
Defensive Staff: Shuffling the Deck
Jim Knowles - Defensive Coordinator, Tennessee
Knowles arrived in 2025 with a hefty paycheck and high expectations. But his lone season in charge of the defense was anything but smooth.
With the new Penn State staff charting its own course, Knowles found a new home at Tennessee-landing another defensive coordinator role. The Volunteers are betting on his track record to stabilize their defense, and Knowles gets a shot at redemption in the SEC.
Deion Barnes - DEs/OLBs Coach, South Carolina
Barnes was widely expected to return to Penn State, but ultimately chose a different path. The former Nittany Lion standout is joining South Carolina’s staff to coach defensive ends and outside linebackers-a shift in responsibilities from his previous role overseeing the full defensive line. Barnes rose quickly through the ranks at Penn State, and this move gives him a chance to broaden his experience in a new defensive system.
Anthony Poindexter - Safeties Coach & Co-DC, Tennessee
Poindexter had been a mainstay on the Penn State staff for five years, serving as safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator. Now, he’ll hold both of those titles under Knowles once again-this time at Tennessee. Poindexter’s reputation as one of the top safeties coaches in the country follows him to Knoxville, where he’ll look to elevate the Volunteers’ secondary.
A New Era Begins
The mass exodus from Penn State’s coaching staff marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. With James Franklin now at Virginia Tech and many of his assistants finding new homes, the Nittany Lions are pressing forward with a clean slate.
For the coaches moving on, it’s a mix of fresh starts, promotions, and reunions. For Penn State, the challenge now is building a new identity-and a new staff-that can return the program to national relevance.
One thing’s for sure: the college football carousel never stops spinning.