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Penn State football announces coaching staff changes

By Marty Leap

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions applauds from the sidelines in the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on November 25, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions applauds from the sidelines in the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on November 25, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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On Friday night the Penn State football team announced four changes to their coaching staff, including a pair of new full-time coaches.

After losing offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead and running backs coach/special teams coach Charles Huff to Mississippi State, the Penn State football team has announced a quartet of coaching changes.

In a very unsurprising move, Ricky Rahne has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Additionally, Rahne has moved from tight ends coach back to his previous position of quarterbacks coach. Promoting Rahne to offensive coordinator was a no brainer move for the Nittany Lions and one that I believe will work out extremely well.

Replacing Rahne as tight ends coach is Tyler Bowen. The 28-year-old Bowen is a Georgia native, who spent the 2017 season as the offensive line coach at his alma mater – Maryland. Prior to coaching at Maryland, Bowen was on Joe Moorhead’s staff at Fordham and a graduate assistant at Penn State.

Tyler Bowen will bring recruiting ties to the uber talent ladened DMV area. This is always a plus, especially with the Nittany Lions having lost their main DMV recruiter in Huff.

In coaching circles Tyler Bowen is viewed as a rising star and a great recruiter. Furthermore, it is great to add a coach that knows Joe Moorhead’s system so well to help Rahne keep Penn State’s offense humming along in 2018. Bowen is a great hire by James Franklin.

Phil Galiano is another strong addition to the Nittany Lion coaching staff. After serving as a defensive consultant for Penn State football in 2017, the 40-year-old Galiano has been named co-defensive line coach and the new special teams coordinator.

Prior to coming to Penn State, Galian was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ staff in 2012 and 2013. He then spent two seasons as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Rutgers, prior to being a special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2016.

Under Galiano’s watchful eye, the Scarlet Knights were one of the best special teams units in the FBS. During his time in Piscataway, Rutgers ranked 12th in the FBS in overall special teams efficiency. This included Rutgers finishing second in the FBS in special teams touchdowns in 2015.

Josh Gattis has added the title of passing game coordinator, previously held by Rahne, while offensive line coach Matt Limegrover has replaced defensive line coach Sean Spencer as running game coordinator.

Next: Recruiting roundup: 12/1/17

The Nittany Lions still need to add a new running backs coach. Starting in January, FBS schools can have ten full-time assistants instead of nine. Look for Penn State to hire a new running backs coach in January.

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