Mid-January sees multiple staffing shakeups for Penn State football

With the new year brings a host of staffing changes for the Penn State football program. From the addition of new special teams coordinator Justin Lustig to the loss of Penn State letterman Calvin Lowry, James Franklin has experienced a multitude of staffing switches over the last week that will have a significant impact on how the Nittany Lions look on and off the field in 2024.

James Franklin pegs SEC assistant Justin Lustig as new STC

On Friday, we received the news that Penn State special teams coordinator Stacy Collins was leaving the program to return to Boise State, where he last coached in 2021. Collins will serve in the same role with the Broncos, while also adding the title of assistant head coach.

James Franklin didn’t waste much time finding a replacement. Early this week, it was reported that the Nittany Lions were adding Vanderbilt assistant coach Justin Lustifg to the staff. The news was made official on Wednesday. Lustig becomes the third coordinator hire for Franklin this offseason, after adding Andy Kotelnicki and Tom Allen in December.

Welcome to Happy Valley, @CoachLustig!#WeAre | https://t.co/jNRewvFbpj pic.twitter.com/xEXDKxrcbS

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) January 17, 2024

“Growing up in Pennsylvania, I have long held the Penn State program as the gold standard of college football,” Lustig said in a statement. “My family and I are incredibly excited for this opportunity to come back to our home state and join this historic program. I want to thank Coach Franklin for this opportunity to join the Penn State football staff. I’m eager to get to work with this remarkable staff and community.”

Justin Lustig is a two-time nominee for the Broyles Award, presented annually to the top assistant coach in college football. A native of Erie, he will coach special teams, outside linebackers, and nickels.

Penn State football letterman Calvin Lowry leaves the program

While the hire of Justin Lustig is the most prominent coaching move, Penn State football has also experienced several other coaching changes behind the scenes this week that will impact the on-field product next fall.

On Tuesday, PennLive confirmed that Nittany Lion letterman Calvin Lowry was leaving the program. Lowry spent only one year on James Franklin’s staff as an offensive analyst and analytics coordinator after previously coaching wide receivers and special teams at Tulsa since 2015. 

Lowry was the first true freshman to start under Joe Paterno in 2002 and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection at safety in 2005. Per FootballScoop, Lowry is expected to join the Middle Tennessee staff as running backs coach.

Sources: Derek Mason adding Penn State staffer Calvin Lowery to MTSU staff https://t.co/u4xXqlJ7Cu via @JohnDBrice1

— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) January 18, 2024

The vacancy left by Calvin Lowry will likely be filled by Mark Dupuis, who announced his return to Happy Valley on Tuesday. Dupuis previously worked as a graduate assistant with the Penn State football program from 2017 to 2019. He was the first hire by former Nittany Lions offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne at Old Dominion. He last served as the Monarch’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

“We are back!” Dupuis said on social media. “Honored to announce I have accepted a position as an offensive analyst with Coach Franklin and Penn State football. Grateful for this opportunity and excited to get to work.”

#WeAre BACK!

Honored to announce I have accepted a position as an offensive analyst with Coach Franklin and Penn State Football!

Grateful for this opportunity and excited to get to work!

🔵⚪️🦁 pic.twitter.com/YCPr3hUniQ

— Mark Dupuis (@realmarkdup) January 16, 2024

Finally, On3 reported on Wednesday that James Franklin was promoting player personnel intern Karsyn Kehler to the position of recruiting coordinator for operations and visits, which was vacated by Shannon Wellman after the 2023 season.

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