Which Penn State coaches will be on the field, in the coaching booth, in 2023?
Penn State has decided where each member of head coach James Franklin’s on-field staff will be on game day during the 2023 season. The list is similar to how it was set up a year ago. However, there is one key change.
Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich is moving from the field to the coaching booth. He spent the last two seasons in State College on the sideline, just as Joe Moorhead did when he led the Lions’ offense. Two of his other predecessors, Ricky Rahne and Kirk Ciarrocca, worked from the booth. During a 2022 interview with reporters, Yurcich explained why he was on the field at Penn State despite being upstairs during stops at Ohio State and Texas.
“Well, I think it’s important from a leadership standpoint to be able to rally the troops, so to speak, and to be able to look Cliff in the eye and have a good conversation with him,” Yurcich said in August of 2022. “As well as clear communication with any adjustments that we need on the field, to be able to talk to each personnel grouping, be able to talk to Coach Franklin.
“I just think that communication is very critical, and at the same time, you have to have good eyes up in the box be able to trust them. It’s critical that we have consistent information flowing from the box to the field. In the past, it’s always been good, as long as the information is 100%.”
More: Predicting the Lions’ statistical leaders in 2023
Yurcich will be joined in the coaching booth by co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ty Howle, who has been up there each of the past two seasons. Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider, receivers coach Marques Hagans, and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein will all be on the sideline.
Moving over to the defense, Manny Diaz will again call plays from field level, just as he did in 2022. His eye in the sky on Penn State game days will be co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter, who was up there last season, as well. The defensive coaches joining Diaz on the sideline are first-year defensive line coach Deion Barnes and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith.
Special teams coordinator Stacy Collins will also work from the sideline.
Penn State game day coaching staff location breakdown
Head coach James Franklin – Field
Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich – Booth
Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz – Field
Special teams coordinator Stacy Collins – Field
Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider – Field
Receivers coach Marques Hagans – Field
Tight ends coach Ty Howle – Field
Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein – Field
Defensive line coach Deion Barnes – Field
Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith – Field
Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter – Booth
