Now-former Penn State Assistant Athletic Director, Performance Enhancement Dwight “Deege” Galt, III had been working with James Franklin since he still had hair.
Galt began working as Maryland’s strength and conditioning coach in 1993 and stayed there until 2011. In between, Franklin became an assistant coach in College Park, first from 2000-‘04, then from 2008-10 before leaving to become Vanderbilt’s head coach.
When Franklin took over at Vandy, he brought Galt with him. When he left Nashville for State College in January of 2014, he brought Galt with him again.
Now, after eight seasons at Penn State, Galt has retired after more than 36 years working in strength and conditioning at the college level.
In a statement, Franklin referred to Galt as his “right hand man” and said the day was “bittersweet.”
”In the 22-plus years I’ve known Deege, he has been a mentor to countless student-athletes and staff,” Franklin wrote. “The last 11 years, he has been a keystone to our staff and my right hand man. As good of a coach as Deege is, he is an even better man and he has been a father figure to so many of our guys throughout our time together.”
Franklin ended his statement by congratulating Galt on his retirement and wishing he and his wife the best.
He also said that he will miss “walks and talks” with Galt, but knows that he is “only a phone call away.”
