Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526526
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4 31 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Hands-On Coaching Joining the Penn State defensive staff with then-coordinator Manny Diaz in the spring of 2022, Connor achieved a goal he described as a "pipe dream." He had previously established a relationship with head coach James Franklin, and a spot opened on the analyst staff. Connor was offered the position on a Thursday and started the job just three days later. There was a catch, though. As an ana- lyst, he was forbidden by NCAA rules from participating in the on-field coach- ing of players. "You're sitting through staff meet- ings, defensive meetings, the linebacker meetings, the unit meetings, preparing film, making cut-ups for the players, game planning," Connor explained. "It was pretty much everything that you do as a coach, except when we were out there on the field, you couldn't actively coach the players." Earlier this summer, that restriction was lifted. Approved by the Division I Council on June 25, the NCAA's new rules allowed all staff members to "pro- vide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes during practice and competition." Accordingly, Connor is now one of a host of Penn State analysts on both sides of the ball delivering com- prehensive on-field instruction while the Nittany Lions progress through their 2024 season. With analysts bolstering virtually ev- ery element of Penn State's coaching process, practices have been fine-tuned to run more efficiently. They're intended to maximize every available opportunity for instruction. At linebacker, the impact of the change has been especially pronounced. De- fensive coordinator Tom Allen has wit- nessed Connor's influence firsthand, describing it as a "massive" asset for the team. "Dan Connor is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play here. He was a tremendous player and is a great, great coach," Allen said. "He was limited with what he could do in the past. Now, that guy can be right in there with us, helping with drills, running drills. I can have the freedom to be able to go to some other spots. He's going to help me with the linebackers in a huge, huge way. "And I trust him. I think he's a phe- nomenal coach, so that's massive. You can divide your groups up when you meet with them. You can get more information covered. And I think also in practice, you get more guys getting individualized at- tention. It's definitely a great thing." An Undeniable Impact Penn State's linebackers have shared in Allen's enthusiasm for the change. They were already familiar with Connor's coaching in the position's meeting room, but the technical instruction that's now being provided is different. That it's com- ing from one of the program's best to ever play the position makes the message all the more resonant. "It's awesome to have him out there," redshirt junior middle linebacker Kobe King said. "Just to be able to learn from him and for him to coach us now, it's def- initely a different aspect just from him having been a player here. He can give us different tips than a coach can give us. Coach [Allen] can give us the scheme, and Coach definitely does his job. But from a player who actually played within a scheme, it's a lot different. I think guys cherish it a lot." Anchored by a starting duo of King and sophomore Tony Rojas, with extensive additional experience coming from red- shirt junior Dominic DeLuca and senior Tyler Elsdon, plus a sizable contribution from redshirt freshman Ta'Mere Rob- inson, Penn State is again poised to be strong at linebacker this season. While the dividends from Connor's presence figure to be even more apparent when the Big Ten season starts, the initial impact of the rule changes has already been un- deniable. "He's a guy that everyone respects when he talks, and it's great for us," King said. "We learn a lot from him. He learns a lot from us. And he always wants us to get better every day. That's where we get it from." ■ "Dan Connor is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play here. He was a tremendous player and is a great, great coach." D E F E N S I V E C O O R D I N A T O R T O M A L L E N After leaving PSU, Connor spent six seasons in the NFL. He played in 14 games and made eight starts for the Dallas Cowboys in 2012, finishing with 56 tackles, the second-highest total of his pro career. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS