Which Penn State coaches will be on the field, in the box, this fall?

Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles believes the time is now for the Nittany Lions. (Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)

Penn State has announced where its coaches will be on game day this fall. The team’s first game notes of the year, which preview the Lions’ first meeting with Nevada, includes who will be on the field and who will be in the booth. Head coach James Franklin recently explained that the program was trying to figure out where those who will be upstairs are actually going to be this year amid the athletic department’s multi-year, $700 million renovation project.

“It’s not going to matter anymore because we’re going to have a really nice press box on either side,” Franklin said, referring to when the renovations are done. “I know you guys have loved that naval ship, that looks like it’s about to fall off the side of the stadium. But from that standpoint, it really didn’t matter. So now it’s where’s the best side to be on to see the game and also maybe stop some people from stealing signals?”

Here’s a look at how things will go for the staff on game day.

Which Penn State coaches will be on the sideline with James Franklin?

The list is mostly familiar to Penn State fans, as all of them have been down there since their arrival beyond Drayton, who is in year one. However, Howle and Poindexter have previously been upstairs and will not be on field level. The group includes:

Special teams coordinator/outside linebackers and nickels coach – Justin Lustig (second season)

Associate head coach/defensive recruiting coordinator/cornerbacks coach – Terry Smith (12th season)

Assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach – Stan Drayton (first season)

Offensive line coach – Phil Trautwein(sixth season)

Receivers coach/offensive recruiting coordinator: Marques Hagans (third season)

Defensive line coach: Deion Barnes(third season)

Quarterbacks coach: Danny O’Brien(second season)

Linebackers coach: Dan Connor (first season with this title; second season in position)

Co-defensive coordinator/safeties – Anthony Poindexter (fifth season)

Co-offensive coordinator/tight ends – Ty Howle (sixth season).

Which Lions coaches will be in the box?

Both coordinators are on this list. Andy Kotelnicki, like most offensive coordinators, prefers to be up there. And, while new defensive play caller Jim Knowles has done both in his career, he prefers to be up top.

“If there’s a camera up there on me, hopefully you’re not going to see me reacting to a bad play, or even if we get a great play,” Knowles said in February. “I really try to stay centered. And my job is to not cheer or react or yell. No one’s going to hear me anyway. My job is to think and be composed. And the press box is the best place to do that.”

The group will be up there with numerous analysts.

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