If you follow Penn State closely, the name Brad Maendler should not be foreign to you.
Maendler is the owner of QB Excelerate, in Brunswick, Ohio, essentially a training ground with specialized instruction and guidance to quarterbacks.
In Maendler’s program, he has developed methods to streamline the throwing motion, and mechanisms in a quarterback’s throwing sequence from the lower half to the upper half of the body to create more power in the throw.
Penn State coach James Franklin, over the years, has recognized Maendler for his work with starting QB Drew Allar and backup Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Franklin has referred to the relationship as a collaborative one, and one that has been beneficial for his quarterback, Maendler and the program.
Allar was asked during 2025 Big Ten Media Days about how that relationship has worked over the years with Penn State.
“Coach Franklin has been great with that,” Allar said. “I think the thing that’s helped with that is Brad has done everything that coach Franklin has asked, to answer any questions that coach Franklin has, either on me, obviously, he trains Grunk in our room, but maybe any recruited quarterbacks he’s training that maybe Penn State’s looking at.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Allar indicated that Franklin has enjoyed Maendler as a resource and the collaboration works because of a very simple reason.
“Coach Franklin is always open…if you communicate with him, or have anything you want to ask Coach Franklin or maybe do to help your game, he’s willing to do anything. He just, you just have to communicate with him. He’s been great for us.”
