Odds are, Penn State will lose most of its coaching staff over this offseason, and one coach could be on the move soon.
Nothing is official yet, but signs are pointing to Penn State LB coach Dan Connor leaving for Virginia Tech.
Chris Coleman of TechSideline reported Sunday morning that Connor “started following me and other VT writers on Twitter yesterday, which isn’t a coincidence.”
We’ll know for sure whether or not it was a coincidence soon enough, but in the meantime, it looks like Penn State will have a new LB coach in 2026.
If it’s true, one of the best to ever do it at Penn State will be employed elsewhere.
CONNOR’S LEGACY
If Connor is leaving Penn State, he’ll be remembered more for what he did as a player than a coach. As a player, Connor was one of the best ever at a place nicknamed “Linebacker University.” He ended his college career as Penn State’s all-time leading tackler, and that record still stands almost 20 years after he played his last game. Connor was a two-time first-team All-American at Penn State and won the 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award (college Defensive Player of the Year). After Penn State, Connor moved onto the NFL, where he played six seasons. From there, he got into coaching.
Connor spent eight seasons coaching at the high school and small college level before returning to his alma mater. He spent three seasons as an analyst for PSU, then became the linebackers coach ahead of this year.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.It’s hard to evaluate Connor’s first full season as LB coach. On the one hand, Penn State struggled at the position once Tony Rojas suffered a season-ending injury four games in. On the other, it’s hard to place too much blame on Connor considering Penn State’s scheme.
With defensive coordinator Jim Knowles running a 4-2-5, the only linebackers consistently seeing playing time were Amare Campbell and Dom DeLuca. Fans and media alike wondered why young players such as true freshman Alex Tatsch weren’t given more of a shot.
When Tatsch got his shot, he delivered, posting five tackles against Nebraska Nov. 22. That speaks well for Connor’s coaching.
WHO WOULD REPLACE HIM?
So if Connor is indeed moving on, who would Penn State get to replace him? The logical favorite seems to be Colby Kratch, who has been Iowa State’s linebackers coach for three seasons.
Kraft had been on Matt Campbell’s staff for almost his entire 10-year run, starting in 2017.
It’s hard to see somebody who has been with Campbell for so long not making the trip to Happy Valley.
