Ex-Penn State assistant lands new role after leaving Nittany Lions

In March, veteran Penn State football associate offensive line coach Frank Leonard decided to call it a career, retiring after 40 years in the industry. However, it appears that the longtime assistant was unable to stay away from the game for long, and is set to return to the sidelines this fall.

Leonard has accepted a role as the senior offensive assistant at Division III Nichols College, according to the program’s website. He will work with the offensive line and tight ends. Greg Pickel of Blue White Illustrated was the first to report the news.

Located in Dudley, Massachusetts, Nichols will allow Leonard to continue coaching and remain close to his family. The former Nittany Lions assistant became a local legend after it was revealed that he lived above James Franklin’s garage while his family stayed in the Boston area. A native of Wethersfield, Connecticut, Leonard has numerous coaching stops in New England, including Western Connecticut, Central Connecticut State (his alma mater), UConn, and Boston College.

Beloved within the Penn State football program, Leonard was a longtime ally of James Franklin, serving with the Nittany Lions head coach while on staff at Kansas State in 2007. He also has a history with offensive line coach Phil Trautwein dating back to their time at Boston College.

In January, the Nittany Lions elevated offensive analyst Bill Queisert to the role of assistant offensive line coach.

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