Penn State football assistant named top RB coach in the Big Ten

After losing both coordinators by season’s end, Penn State football has had several assistant coaches thrown into the spotlight this year. The Nittany Lions will have a unique situation for next week’s Peach Bowl, with shared play-calling duties on both sides of the ball. But Penn State has handled the potentially tenuous situation with very few hiccups so far, primarily due to the quality of coaches on James Franklin’s staff. On Monday, Penn State football assistant Ja’Juan Seider earned some much-deserved praise for his work with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, being named Big Ten Running Backs Coach of the Year by the Our Coaching Network professional organization.

Penn State football assistant Ja’Juan Seider named Big Ten Running Backs Coach of the Year

Seeing Ja’Juan Seider claim another coaching honor is nothing new for Penn State football fans. Seider is one of the most well-respected assistants in all of college football. In February, the Nittany Lion assistant was named the top recruiter in the Big Ten for his work during the 2023 cycle.

Now, Seider is receiving recognition for his efforts on the field. On Monday, Our Coaching Network, a professional organization for football coaches of all levels, named Ja’Juan Seider its Big Ten Running Backs Coach of the Year.

🏈RB Coach of The Year🏈

Our @B1Gfootball RB Coach of the Year is @PennStateFball's @coachseider👏

Led B1G as a team in Rushing Yards/Game, were 2nd in Rush TDs & Yards/Carry & had 2 of the Top 5 RBs in Yards/Carry & 3 of the top 10 in Rushing TDs✍️

RB Coach of The Year🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/9sVRfVMyXu

— Our Coaching Network | A Football Coach Community (@OurCoachingNet) December 18, 2023

Although it was criticized for its lack of explosive plays this season, Penn State football had one of the best rushing attacks in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions led the conference in rushing yards per game, and were second only to Michigan in rushing touchdowns with 26.

After bursting onto the scene as true freshmen, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen still remained productive in 2023. Singleton and Allen rushed for over 700 yards for the second consecutive season. The pair became the first true freshmen duo in Big Ten history to accomplish that feat in 2022.

“Right here, you have a chance to win it all”

Ja’Juan Seider has had plenty of opportunities to leave Penn State football over the years. It’s hard not to be an attractive candidate on the coaching market with running backs like Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaytron Allen on Seider’s resume.

But through it all, Seider has remained loyal to Penn State. During Peach Bowl media day Friday, Seider explained why he’s stayed in Happy Valley for so long.

“A lot of times as an assistant coach, it’s stability,” Seider said. Like, what do you leave Penn State for? Like as an assistant coach, it’s got to make a lot of sense. You know, people say lateral moves. Well, most of them are going to be below Penn State. Unless you go to Ohio State, Michigan, which I don’t see that. I want to beat their ass. I don’t want to go there.”

“I truly enjoy my time here,” he continued. “I mean, it’s the people that make it special. And as an assistant coach, I mean, all you’re looking for is a place where you can grow. You have an opportunity to win it all. Right here, you have a chance to win it all. You know, we haven’t done it yet, but we were knocking on the door. So, a lot of places you don’t get that opportunity. We sit here pissed off, we won 10 games. A lot of people would be glad to win 10 games. Like I don’t take that for granted.”

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