Big Ten foe promotes ex-Penn State football staffer to coordinator level

A former Penn State football staffer has a new title four months after returning to the Big Ten. Last week, Luke Fickell promoted ex-Nittany Lions analyst Eric Raisbeck to the role of assistant special teams coordinator at Wisconsin.

The Badgers made the promotion official in a news release Thursday. Luke Fickell added Raisbeck to his second-year staff at Wisconsin in March as a special teams analyst.

In January, Eric Raisbeck left the Penn State football staff to become the special teams coordinator at UC Davis, his first coordinator opportunity at the Division I level. He spent four seasons in Happy Valley under James Franklin.

“Raisbeck helped bring the Penn State kicking team to new heights, recruiting the number-one kicker in the class of 2021 as well as the top punter in the 2022 class,” Raisbeck’s Wisconsin bio reads. “He guided the program’s all-time leading punter in Riley Thompson and produced 13 All-Big Ten honorees in his special teams unit.”

Raisbeck’s departure coincides with that of special teams coordinator Stacy Collins, who returned to Boise State after two seasons with the Nittany Lions.

Justin Lustig was hired as Penn State’s new special teams coordinator in January. Former Temple staffer Keith Bruno will fill the role previously held by Eric Raisbeck.

Penn State football plays Wisconsin on October 26 in Camp Randall Stadium. It will be the first time James Franklin and the Nittany Lions will face the Badgers under Luke Fickell.

James Franklin explains hiring of Penn State football letterman

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Some of the Nittany Lions’ offseason staffing moves also made their way back into the conversation last week at Big Ten Media Days when James Franklin discussed the hiring of Penn State football letterman and Super Bowl Champion Jordan Hill.

Previously the head coach at Trinity High School in Camp Hill, Jordan Hill returned to the program as the director of life skills in May.

“Jordan’s a guy, obviously, a great Penn State player. But as I got to know him, he’s just, as you know, he’s just a great human being,” Franklin said. “And he’s really a great example of what Penn State’s all about. [He] had a great experience while he was at Penn State, then went on and had a great career in the NFL, and then got back into the game.

“You know, I think there’s a ton of former players that would like to get back into the game. But for myself, and probably a lot of coaches, you’d like for them to go do it somewhere first. Penn State’s not necessarily a first job. You look at Dan Connor; he was coaching at multiple places. Alan Zemaitis was coaching at multiple places. And, you know, Jordan had been coaching for a number of years.

“And I was just so impressed with him when I got to know him. Then when we had an opportunity to bring him back home and [we wanted to] get him to be part of our program because I think he’s a guy that will relate very well with our players. And can be, you know, the reality is when you when you play in the NFL, you’re a former Penn State player, you automatically have credibility. And we had an opportunity to get him in the building, and Pat [Kraft] and [deputy athletic director] Vinnie [James] were supportive, and we made it work.”

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