The Nittany Lions are adding a Penn State letterman and former national champion to Jim Knowles’ staff.
Greg Gattuso, Albany’s longtime head coach and a defensive lineman on Penn State’s 1982 national championship team, is joining the Nittany Lions as a defensive consultant, according to a source.
WYNT’s Rodger Wyland first reported the news on Wednesday afternoon.
Gattuso, 62, played at Penn State from 1981-83 and began his coaching career with the Nittany Lions as a graduate assistant. The Pittsburgh native was the head coach at Duquesne from 1993-2004 and spent nine seasons as an assistant at Pitt and Maryland before moving to Albany.
Greg Gattuso was a defensive lineman at Penn State in the early 1980s & was a member of the 1982 national championship team. the Pittsburgh native's previous coaching stops include Maryland, Pitt & Duquesne
????: Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Imageshttps://t.co/SGHKaqD0hY pic.twitter.com/sg8KdrlaqU
— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) February 5, 2025
In 11 seasons at Albany, Gattuso posted a 54-69 overall record with FCS playoff appearances in 2019 and 2023. The Great Danes went 11-4 in 2023, leading Gattuso to be named the CAA Coach of the Year and the AFCA FCS Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Now former @UAlbanyFootball head coach Greg Gattuso talked about how the opportunity to join James Franklin’s staff at Penn State came to be. He got emotional at the idea of returning to his Alma Mater, where he played from 1981-1983. @CoachGGattuso @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/TiMwH55KGX
— Griffin Haas (@Griffin__Haas) February 5, 2025
Gattuso will provide senior expertise on Knowles’ staff. Knowles was officially hired away from Ohio State last week to become the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator.
