Penn State has been operating with co-offensive coordinators since mid-November.
After PSU fired OC Mike Yurcich Nov. 12, following the team’s loss to Michigan, the program quickly announced that running backs coach Ju’Juan Seider and tight ends coach Ty Howle— who were previous co-OCs— would be taking over the responsibilities.
After Penn State won its last two games and some offseason time passed— enough for Penn State to hire Yurcich’s full-time replacement, Andy Kotelnicki— defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left to become Duke’s head coach.
Automatic 😈 pic.twitter.com/Hn5GbBx6NE
— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) December 9, 2023
With Kotelnicki still settling in, Seider and Howle will run the show for Penn State’s Peach Bowl game scheduled for Dec. 30 against Ole Miss. At James Franklin’s bowl media day press conference late Friday morning at Beaver Stadium, he announced what the defensive coordinator situation would be for the Peach Bowl. Like with the offense, there will be co-coordinators.
One of the names isn’t a surprise: Anthony Poindexter.
The other one will be to at least some fans: Rob Smith.
James Franklin says Penn State is using a co-DC approach for Peach Bowl with safeties coach Anthony Poindexter and analyst Robb Smith, a former DC at Minnesota and Rutgers.
— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) December 15, 2023
Poindexter has been on Franklin’s staff since 2021, being the team’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator.
After that 2021 regular season, Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry left to become Virginia Tech’s head coach. Poindexter stepped in to be Penn State’s DC for its Outback Bowl against Arkansas.
Smith is a defensive analyst at Penn State, having taken that responsibly in July. Previously, he was the defensive coordinator at, ironically enough, Duke, working in that capacity in 2022. Before that, Smith coached against Franklin and Penn State twice as Rutgers’ defensive coordinator from 2020-21.
Smith is a PA guy, having grown up in Pittsburgh, played college ball at Allegheny College.
