**Breaking: Penn State Hires Letterman, National Champion to Jim Knowles’ Defensive Staff**
Penn State has made a significant move to strengthen its defensive coaching staff by adding former Nittany Lions letterman and national champion Greg Gattuso. Gattuso, who most recently served as head coach at the University at Albany, will join the staff as a defensive line consultant. He brings over a decade of coaching experience and led Albany to the FCS National Semifinal in 2023, the program’s best-ever playoff finish.
In addition to Gattuso, Penn State has hired Shane Eachus and Brent Zdebski as defensive analysts. Eachus, a former graduate assistant under Jim Knowles at Oklahoma State, joins from Georgetown, while Zdebski, who has worked with Knowles at Ohio State, will help bring continuity to the defensive coaching unit.
These additions are part of the broader effort to enhance Penn State’s defense under the leadership of Jim Knowles, who was hired as defensive coordinator in January 2025. Knowles, previously at Ohio State, is set to make history as the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football, with a $3.1 million per-year contract.
With these key hires, Penn State looks poised to make a major impact on the defensive side of the ball in the coming seasons.
