Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1533674
1 2 A P R I L 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M F ormer Penn State All-American Dan Connor has been the team's de facto linebackers coach since last summer when the NCAA loosened restrictions on countable assistant coaches. Now, the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in tackles has the official title. Reflected in recent changes to the Penn State staff directory, Connor is leading the way at Linebacker U as the team's prop- erly labeled linebackers coach. After wrapping up a six-year NFL ca- reer, Connor started his coaching journey at West Chester University in 2014. He spent two years at the high school level before moving to Division III Widener for three seasons. His big break came in 2022, when he was added to Manny Diaz's de- fensive staff at Penn State as an analyst. At the time, Connor wasn't allowed to work hands-on with players due to NCAA rules governing what analysts could do. "You can't coach the players on the field when you're out there," Connor said after he was hired. "You're sitting in on staff meetings, defensive meetings, the linebacker meetings, the unit meetings, preparing film, making cut-ups for the players, game planning. It's pretty much everything that you do as a coach, except when we're out there on the field, you can't actively coach the players." Connor's work behind the scenes caught the attention of James Franklin and the rest of the staff. Diaz left after the 2023 season, and his successor, Tom Allen, stayed for just one year. Amid the changes in leadership, Connor's presence provided some much-needed stability. With the NCAA having lifted its restric- tions, he stepped in for Allen early in the 2024 season to handle helmet communi- cation for the Nittany Lions and went on the road recruiting in the fall and again in January, signifying his importance on and off the field. Now, the Lions will return Connor, defensive line coach Deion Barnes, cor- nerbacks coach Terry Smith and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter as the core of the defensive staff under new coordinator Jim Knowles. The continuity "makes my life a lot eas- ier," Knowles said upon arriving at Penn State. "They're veteran coaches who have been successful but are also really low- ego guys. I've talked to all of them, and it comes through: 'Hey, we just want what's best for Penn State, and we want what's best for our players.' That allows for a free exchange of ideas, where everybody's free to say what they want and what worked and what they knew and what could make us better. "It makes the whole process a lot eas- ier, working with these guys that Coach Franklin has here. They love the school, they love the program, and they just want to do what's best." Connor played for the Nittany Lions from 2004-07, racking up 419 tackles and earning All-America honors his last two seasons. He won the 2007 Chuck Bed- narik Award as the best defensive player in the country and was chosen by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He's spent the past three years in Happy Valley and is proud to call it home. "It's a great place to live," Connor said. "My family, they love it. Kids love it. And I'm giving back to the program. When you're a player, you're a taker. You're tak- ing all the coaching, the support and ev- erything. "Being able to come back, I'm on the other side. I can have an effect on these players' lives, on and off the field, and give back to a program that meant so much to me. My career, my development as an adult — it pretty much defined who I am right now. Being able to give back to Penn State and then have an effect on the play- ers has been unbelievable." ■ Dan Connor Earns Official Title As Linebackers Coach S E A N F I T Z | S E A N . F I T Z @ O N 3 . C O M Trace McSorley Joins Staff As Offensive Analyst The Penn State football program has brought back another familiar name. Trace McSorley, who set numerous school records during his three seasons as the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback, has returned to his alma mater as a member of James Franklin's staff. McSorley will serve as an offensive analyst working with the Nittany Lions' quarterbacks. McSorley left Penn State in 2018 as the program's all-time leader in passing yards (9,899), passing touchdowns (77) and total offense (11,596 yards). Many of his records were later broken by his suc- cessor, Sean Clifford, but McSorley remains a beloved figure at PSU. Drafted in the sixth round by Baltimore in 2019, McSorley spent his first two pro seasons on the Ra- vens' active roster but was primarily a practice squad player after that, with stints in Arizona, Chicago and Pittsburgh. He made his only NFL start in December 2022, completing 24 of 45 passes for 217 yards in the Cardinals' 19-16 overtime loss to Tampa Bay. — Greg Pickel Although he's only been a member of Penn State's staff since 2022, Connor will be working with his third defen- sive coordinator this fall in Jim Knowles. PHOTO BY SEAN FITZ