Penn State must be ‘strategic’ to ‘maximize’ rule change that allows analysts and off-field staff to coach
INDIANAPOLIS — Penn State coach James Franklin has not hidden the fact that his most recent contract extension was not just about the money that goes into his proverbial pot. That was undoubtedly important. But, so too was ensuring the pot that pays assistants, analysts, and other support staff personnel was also well funded. It is, as the Lions have continued to add new faces in analyst roles, the recruiting department, and player development areas. All of those people, from longtime off-field staffers like Penn State great Dan Connor to just-hired Director of Life Skills and former Nittany Lion Jordan Hill, can now have on-field coaching responsibilities on game day and during practices. Previously, only the 10 on-field assistants and Franklin could do those things.
The rule change is a good one. But, it also leads to an obvious question: How much is too much? When are there too many cooks in the kitchen? And how can a program ensure that the message from its head coach and coordinators stays the same not only down to the position coaches and graduate assistants but now also a variety of familiar faces who can now have an hand in instruction? It’s something Penn State, which lists a total of 14 analysts in addition to 13 recruiting department staffers and a host of other off-field helpers, spent time figuring out at its recent coaches retreat before Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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“I do think you have to be strategic about it,” Franklin said. “You got to be smart. We talked about this the last few days [on the staff retreat], about making sure everybody in the room understands, we’re going to maximize our personnel. But, don’t just think because of the rule change that you’re coaching, because you have to prove that you’re ready for that.”
Franklin later went on to joke that athletic director Pat Kraft, a former defender at Indiana, which coach the linebackers who don’t play while Connor and defensive coordinator Tom Allen would coach the ones who do. That first part is a joke, of course. But the second is not, and is an example of what the future holds.
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Which analysts could have increased roles?
Longtime analyst Frank Leonard, for example, can now be more hands-on while helping Phil Trautwein along the offensive line. Mark Dupuis, a previous PSU staff member who was Ricky Rahne’s wide receivers coach at Old Dominion for four seasons before returning to an analyst role with the Lions this offseason, is another good example. He can give Marques Hagans a hand like Charles Walker will do with Ja’Juan Seider and the running backs. Additional examples abound across the staff list. If Penn State does it right, it will have the perfect ratio of player to coach instruction. It’s a fine line, though, and one Franklin will require his staff to walk tightly.
“Honestly, we’re going to maximize it as much as we possibly can,” Franklin said. “And the rules allow you to have some flexibility. They really do. So we’re going to look at that. We want to make sure that we’re taking advantage of the horsepower that we have, and the manpower that we have, but make sure that we don’t have too many voices in too many rooms. And, when there are different voices, ultimately, we better all be speaking the same language and singing the same song and singing it the same tune.”
