Penn State adds FCS head coach to Jim Knowles' defensive staff
Penn State adds FCS head coach to Jim Knowles' defensive staff
On Tuesday, Penn State's new defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, made his first public appearance as the Nittany Lions' DC. A few new additions to Knowles' defensive staff were announced the next day, notably a Penn State alum and current FCS head coach.
Greg Gattuso, who led Albany for the past 11 seasons, told reporters at a press conference Wednesday afternoon that he is leaving for Penn State as an analyst and defensive line consultant.
In his 11 years at Albany, Gattuso posted a 54-69 record while leading the program to FCS playoff appearances in 2019 and 2023. Albany's 2023 season was Gattuso's best year at the helm, as he led the Great Danes to an 11-4 record and a share of the CAA title. He was named CAA Coach of the Year and American Football Coaches Association FCS Coach of the Year.
Gattuso played for the Nittany Lions in the 1980s and was a letterman with the program on the defensive line. As a Pittsburgh native, he will return to familiar stomping grounds in Western Pennsylvania. Gattuso had a 12-year run as head coach Duquesne and spent time in various assistant roles at Pitt and Maryland.
Gattuso became the third hire under Jim Knowles after Georgetown secondary coach Shane Eachus and Ohio State quality control coach Brent Zdebski joined Knowles' staff as analysts.
Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
🇮🇹 Gattuso: reasons for and against, 3️⃣ pros and cons for Italy ❗
Will Gennaro Gattuso be the new coach of the Italian National Team? Nothing is set in stone yet, but the World Cup champion's name is definitely leading the pack compared to the other candidates. Clearly not the Federation's first choice, this is a 'fallback' option that comes with both pros and cons. Let's look at 3 reasons why Gattuso could be a good choice, and 3 reasons that make us doubt his appointment. 1) Is Gattuso really the right character right now? One of the harshest criticisms of Spalletti's management was that he created too heavy, tense, almost neurotic an atmosphere within the National Team. During the Euros, the team seemed confused and appeared to feel the pressure: a united group, yes, but also a group that didn't seem to be enjoying itself. Advertisement In this respect, Gattuso seems like a similar profile—different in his ways, but certainly not 'lighthearted'; on the contrary, he has always been a very intense person. After all, 'Ringhio' ('Growl') isn't a nickname given by chance. The other two options for the National Team were Claudio Ranieri and Stefano Pioli: two coaches capable of taking the pressure off the group, restoring calm, and then trying to rebuild the joy of going to Coverciano. So the question is legitimate: will the team be able to rediscover the 'pleasure of playing' with Gattuso? 2) Another formation: risk or necessity? After the Euros, Italy chose a clear formation to start over: a 3-man defense, players making runs into half-spaces to support a lone striker. Against France, this formation paid off, but almost exclusively in that match. Donnarumma himself attested to this: 'We lost our balance.' Advertisement Gattuso, on the other hand, prefers a 4-man defense: in his career, he has rarely used a 3-man defense. He has often fielded two wingers, who were practically excluded from recent call-ups. The new coach will probably adopt a different style from Spalletti, who had 'leaned' on the Inter block, replicating its strengths and weaknesses on a smaller scale: coordinated movements (when well executed) but little unpredictability on the ball. Will Italy adapt right away? 3) He's only taken over mid-season once: there's no time The other concern is the time available, because Gattuso has only taken over a team mid-season once in his career: in December 2017, when he took charge of AC Milan. Advertisement His experience at Milan wasn't negative, but some doubts arise from his initial results with the Rossoneri: his impact in the league was a draw in his debut (against Benevento), a win (against Bologna), and two consecutive losses to Verona and Atalanta. Only after that came the derby win that relaunched the season. In this case, Gattuso won't have time to settle in: he'll have to win right away and, if possible, by a large margin—perhaps hoping that Norway stumbles along the way. 1) Gattuso can instill a sense of responsibility Gennaro Gattuso knows what it means to win with the National Team: he did it in 2006 and is one of the best men to transmit the sense of responsibility that—at least on the surface—seems to be missing from some Azzurri players. Advertisement All his players have always emphasized this: 'Gattuso asks you to bleed for the shirt,' a strong image, but probably the only thing the current National Team can do. There's little time and somehow they need to bounce back: if not with ideas, at least with spirit. And in this sense, Gattuso knows how to make himself understood. 2) He can call up those who truly deserve it Spalletti's decision to create a specific technical project was a response to the confusion at the Euros, but the tactics he proposed led to the exclusion (from the squad or starting eleven) of some in-form players: Orsolini above all, and many wingers in general. Advertisement Orsolini, who against Norway beat his man and was scolded: 'Play with the team' is the emblem of what's been described. Gattuso will now be able to call up those who have actually played better: from Orsolini and Zaccagni (perhaps even letting them play) to Mancini in defense, who had an excellent second half of the season. After all, a selector must do this too: not only choose who fits his project best, but also call up those who are playing better and create a suitable context for them to express themselves. 3) For Gattuso, it's an unexpected opportunity There's no doubt that Gattuso gives 110% of himself in every experience he faces, but this time it could be the personal opportunity for him to surpass himself. Because this opportunity is unexpected: a coach going from terminating his contract with Hajduk Split to the Italian National Team is a one-off. Advertisement Accepting the Azzurri bench is a turning point in his career: to relaunch himself at the highest level or to drop further down the European hierarchy. Because the mutual termination with Valencia (a club in serious trouble) and the sacking from Marseille—which finished 2nd in Ligue 1 this year—represent a step back compared to his experiences with Milan and Napoli. In short, it's not just 'do or die' for the Azzurri players but also for Gattuso. He, as always, will give his all. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here. 📸 Stuart Franklin - 2024 Getty Images
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
🗞️ Perisic to Barça? Huijsen, Joan García...on the front pages
The transfer market once again takes center stage on the front pages of the sports press today. Huijsen, presented yesterday in Madrid, Joan García, Perisic, Mosquera, Lomónaco, or Gattuso are some of the notable names. Marca As Sport Mundo Deportivo Superdeporte Estadio Deportivo Gazzetta dello Sport L'Equipe This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 ISABELLA BONOTTO - AFP or licensors
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State Summer is here, and it is everyone's favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota. Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans. So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall. Player Information Player: Nick Singleton School: Penn State Height/Weight: 6-1/226 lbs. Player Background - 5-Star Recruit - High School Gatorade Player of the Year - Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2022 - Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2023 Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season - 499 Rushing Attempts - 2,912 Rushing Yards - 5.8 Yards Per Attempt - 78 Receptions - 768 Receiving Yards - 9.8 Yards Per Reception - 40 Total Touchdowns Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season - 78.1 PFF Rushing Grade - 3.63 Yards after Contact per Carry - 90 Missed Tackles Forced - 72 Carries of 10+ Yards - Breakaway Run Chance of 42.9% Player Traits - Reliable pass catcher - Fluid change of direction skills - Good ball carrier vision - Demonstrates good body control - Doesn't lose momentum easily Player Summary Nick Singletoj could have declared for the 2024 NFL Draft but he seemingly didn't want to be lost in a log jam of a class. In the 2025 NFL Draft running back group, he has a chance to separate himself in a thinner class. Singleton can be a homerun threat with each touch of the ball, he has good body control, and his underrated pass catching ability allows him to have versatility within offenses. He has solid change of direction skills and body control which allows him to run inside or out, as a result, he fits into a variety of systems.
