Less than two days after word got out that one Penn State assistant was in the mix for the West Virginia head coaching job, another assistant is reportedly an option.
Per Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Penn State running backs coach and assistant offensive coordinator JaโJuan Seider is a candidate.
Seider, 47, recently wrapped up his seventh regular season as Penn Stateโs running backs coach. In that time, heโs helped players such as Journey Brown, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen flourish. Seider also has experience as a coordinator. When Penn State fired OC Mike Yurcich with two games left in the 2019 season, Seider and tight ends coach Ty Howle became co-OCs for the remainder of the year.
WHAT THE ATHLETIC WROTE
Penn State Nittany Lions Coach Ja’Juan Seider – November 12, 2022 David Hague/NSN
โA former West Virginia quarterback who got his start in college coaching at WVU before returning there as the running backs coach on Dana Holgersonโs staff for four seasons, Seider is a well-regarded coach with deep ties around Florida, which has frequently been a key recruiting area for the program. Players really respond to him, and Seider knows from all his time in Morgantown what really works for the Mountaineers.โ
Feldman also mentioned Penn State OC Andy Kotelnicki. Mike Asti of Nittany Sports Nowโs sister outlet, WVSportsNow, first reported Sunday evening that Kotelnicki had expected to interview.
โA HELL OF A RIDEโ
Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider prior to the whiteout warmups.
Last fall, Seider made it clear on a Zoom call with reporters that it would take a big opportunity for him to leave PSU.ย
โWe can win it all here at Penn State,โ Seider said, โand thatโs all you want to do as an assistant coach is be at a program where you feel like you really can win it all, and I know I feel like we could here.โ
Seider is a young guy for the coaching profession, and he doesnโt plan on stopping anytime soon.
Based on that it isnโt likely that Penn State will be the final stop on whatโs been a 17-year journey coaching college football.
If that ends up being the case, though, Seider wouldnโt be upset.
โIf Penn Stateโs the last place I go and finish my career,โ Seider said, โIโm okay with that because itโs been a hell of a ride.โ
