Penn State makes hire of Tom Allen as next defensive coordinator official

Penn State officially has a new defensive coordinator. The Lions are bringing former Indiana coach Tom Allen on board to replace Manny Diaz. He, of course, left State College after two seasons to take the top job at Duke. Allen, on the other hand, was fired as the Hoosiers head coach following the regular season. Allen spent seven seasons eight seasons in Bloomington and was 33-49. He beat the Lions one time. Allen will coach the linebackers while also leading the defense. His contract was approved on Tuesday. Terms of it were not disclosed.

“I have always had a ton of respect for Tom Allen, and we are excited to welcome him to our staff,” Pen State coach James Franklin said in a news release. “I’ve enjoyed following his coaching career and his experience as a head coach and defensive play caller will bring tremendous value to our program. Coach Allen has led aggressive and attacking style defenses that will complement what we have already established. We are looking forward to welcoming Tom, his wife Tracy, son Thomas, and daughters Hannah and Brittney to Happy Valley.”

Allen also weighed in on his new job.

“I am thrilled for this opportunity with Penn State Football and want to thank Coach Franklin and Dr. Kraft for believing in me,” Allen said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Franklin and having been across the sidelines from him, I’ve seen what he is building here. To be trusted to join this storied program has me fired up, and I can’t wait to get to work alongside this coaching staff, these student-athletes and to immerse myself in the Happy Valley community.”

Penn State and Allen are a scheme fit

At his Friday news conference, Franklin was asked about what he was looking for in the next Penn State defensive coordinator. He said that changing schemes away from the Lions’ heavy emphasis on 4-3 and 4-2-5 packages was possible but not ideal.

“I’ve had three defensive coordinators that have all been able to play at a high level, and we’ve taken a similar approach with all three,” Franklin said. “We’ve also recruited towards a certain scheme as well. I’m not saying that what we have played is the only way you can play defense. There are guys that run the 3-4 that are highly successful guys. There are guys running a 3-3-stack that are highly successful. I just think there’s a lot of gymnastics that go into making that change, and can create a lot of questions that guys are asking, ‘am I going to fit into the new scheme?’ So prefer not to do that.”

Why does it matter? Because Allen has long run a 4-2-5 scheme. So, it fits with what the Lions do, have done, and are recruiting for.

“Indiana prides itself on stopping the run,” former Lions center Connor McGovern said in 2018. “They like to load the box. They are always constantly blitzing, moving guys around. So it makes it a little bit challenging, especially seeing the fronts that they are going to give us because they like to constantly stunt and move around.”

Sound familiar? It should.

Allen being a former head coach helps, too

Franklin also said that his next Penn State coordinator did not need to be a former head coach. But, it certainly doesn’t hurt that Allen is.

“If somebody had head coaching experience, I think there’s value in that,” Franklin said. “I think Manny’s time as a head coach was valuable. Stacy Collins’ value as a previous head coach, there’s value in those things. So that’s not the end all, be all, but it’s helpful if we can find it.”