Pair of Penn State assistants have additional titles entering 2022 season

Two Penn State football coaches have additional job titles ahead of the 2022 season.

According to the program’s official website, running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider is also now the co-offensive coordinator. Defensive line coach John Scott Jr., then, has added the role of run game coordinator.

Both assistants are multi-year members of head coach James Franklin’s on-field staff.

Seider was sought after this offseason

Penn State had to fight to keep Seider on its sideline following the 2021 season. The added title undoubtedly helped that effort.

Florida and Florida State were pursuing Seider after the Outback Bowl, according to On3 senior national college football reporter Matt Zenitz. The Seminoles were reportedly trying to hire the Belle Glade, Fla., native and West Virginia alum to be their co-offensive coordinator.

Seider has been a valuable member of Franklin’s Penn State staff on and off the field. He joined it in 2018 after one season with the Gators. After two years as just the running backs coach, Seider was given the role of run game coordinator, as well, in 2020. He has now shedded that title in place of the co-offensive coordinator one.

On3 called Seider one of the 10 best recruiters in the country for the Class of 2022. He helped the Lions ink Gatorade National Player of the Year and five-star running back Nicholas Singleton and four-star ball carrier Kaytron Allen, among others. Considered one of the nation’s best recruiters of Florida prospects, Seider has also developed numerous NFL-caliber running backs during a coaching career that dates back to 2001.

As for what the co-offensive coordinator role means, from this space’s point of view, nothing has changed there in terms of the game-day operation. Some schools do have co-coordinators who alternate play calls in-game. There is no immediate reason to believe that is the case here; it’s Mike Yurcich’s show. Read more on what titles typically indicate below.

Both Seider and Yurcich have talked in the past about how the staff on that side of the ball works in unison. One of their biggest tasks this offseason will be improving what was a stagnant rushing attack a season ago.

Scott enters year three at Penn State

Penn State hired John Scott Jr., away from South Carolina before the start of the 2020 season.

The Greer, S.C., native has helped Odafe “Jayson” Oweh and Shaka Toney reach the NFL. In 2021, end Arnold Ebiketie was a first-team All-Big Ten selection who could hear his name called in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Hybrid defender Jesse Luketa was also molded into an all-conference pick by Scott Jr., during his first season at defensive end.

Penn State last had a run game coordinator on defense when Sean Spencer was on staff. He, of course, was replaced by Scott Jr., after leaving for a job with the New York Giants. Spencer has since moved on to Florida.

What do the titles really mean?

In a general sense, titles are usually tied to additional compensation as opposed to entirely new or greatly expanded responsibilities.

By way of an example, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked back in September to explain what the run game coordinator role, for example, meant on his staff. He’s speaking about a coach with that title on offense, but it applies generally and to both college football and the NFL.

“In some organizations in the National Football League, it’s a means of getting a quality assistant some additional money and to be competitive in a market where there’s scarcity in terms of quality people,” Tomlin said.

“Sometimes it comes with responsibility, a guy who’s a central prong, if you will, or a central assistant to the coordinator, and to developing the run aspect of a game plan. And so, there are a lot of guys who carry the title, but depending on where you are in the circumstances is whether or not it means something or not, to be quite honest with you.”

Tracking Penn State coaching staff updates

There have been other changes on Franklin’s Penn State staff in addition to the two coaches with new titles.

Manny Diaz is in as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in place of Brent Pry. He is now the Virginia Tech head coach, of course.

Stacy Collins is the new special teams coordinator and coach of the nickelbacks and outside linebackers. He took Joe Lorig’s spot after he moved on to Oregon.

Off the field, former Senior Director of Football Operations Michael Hazel joined Pry in Blacksburg as his chief of staff. Penn State has yet to fill his vacated role.

Finally, Penn State strength coach Dwight Galt retired after the 2021 season. A longtime member of his staff, Chuck Losey, is now in that role.

Penn State opens the 2022 season at Purdue on Thur., Sept. 1. A kickoff time has not yet been announced.