UNIVERSITY PARK — Dan Connor is a Penn State guy through and through.
He eats, sleeps and breathes blue and white and it shows every time he’s on the field whether it’s at practice or during games.
It should serve as no surprise that his former teammate Paul Posluszny referred to Connor as ‘perfect’ for the job when asked about Connor being named linebackers coach for the Nittany Lions following the 2024 season.
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For Connor, it’s another opportunity to give back to his alma mater and a program he’s given his blood, sweat and tears for.
“Being able to give back to Penn State, you’re a player here and you’re just taking everything,” Connor said. “Being able to come back, give back to the program, and instill some of that culture that we had in the early 2000s in that era, that mentality that we had. Coach Franklin does a great job with the culture, and being able to add a piece of that kind of the history of Penn State, especially the linebacker room, being able to add to that with the players. I think it’s impactful, and it makes a difference.”
Connor is not a stranger to the program, having served as a defensive analyst for the past three seasons including last year, where he relayed plays through the headset to the players on the field.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.His style of play mirrored what Penn State football and Linebacker U are all about: pride, passion, blue-collar attitude and it’s those qualities that endeared him to his teammates and now his players. Connor’s embodiment of those qualities also make him the perfect fit at his position.
“Penn State is hard-nosed, blue-collar,” Connor said. “Philly factories and steel mills in Pittsburgh. That’s what the program is. Being able to instill that in the players, to have them understand the history of the program is pretty important.”
Connor gets the chance to blend that past with the present for his players as he learns and works under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and it’s a position Connor relishes being part of as he enjoys his first training camp as linebackers coach.
“It’s been a master’s degree in defensive football and the players are rising to the occasion,” Connor said. “They understand the stakes are higher, the standard is higher, and they’re ready to meet that challenge. He’s been awesome for the room. He’s great for the staff, great for the defense, and it’s been exciting.”
