Penn State football analyst takes coordinator role at Big Ten foe

James Franklin and Penn State football are losing a member of the program’s off-field staff with over a decade of experience in the Big Ten to a conference rival.

On Tuesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Nittany Lions offensive analyst Robb Smith is set to be hired by Rutgers as its co-defensive coordinator.

The move marks Smith’s third stint in Piscataway. Smith originally served as special teams coordinator for three seasons before taking over the Scarlet Knights’ defense in 2012. He later returned to run the defense in 2020 and 2021. It also marks the fourth time Smith has coached under Greg Schiano, following the Rutgers head coach to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013.

Sources: Rutgers is set to hire Robb Smith as the school’s co-defense coordinator and defensive play caller. This will be his third stop as a defensive coordinator at Rutgers, and third time overall at the school. He’s been the DC at Arkansas, Minnesota and Duke. pic.twitter.com/7AadUQQslz

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 4, 2025

In addition to Rutgers and Penn State, Smith also spent time at Iowa and Minnesota within the Big Ten. Stints at Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Duke round out his nearly two decades of experience at the FBS level.

Looking for a way to stay up-to-date with all the most important news surrounding Penn State football and Nittany Lion athletics? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our free newsletter for live news and insights sent directly to your feed!

Smith spent the last two seasons as an offensive analyst for the Nittany Lions. He stepped into an elevated role in the 2023 Peach Bowl, calling the defense alongside safeties coach Anthony Poindexter following Manny Diaz’s departure for Duke.

“Robb became available; Robb’s from Pennsylvania,” James Franklin said of the Pittsburgh native ahead of the Peach Bowl. “We have a number of people that he trusts that know me and that I trust that know him… He’s got a track record; he understands our program and the culture.”

After not facing the Scarlet Knights in 2024, Penn State football will travel to Rutgers next fall for the regular season finale on November 29.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.