As many Penn State fans turn to their NFL fandom cheering on Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX this Sunday, the Nittany Lions received some surprising news regarding James Franklin’s coaching staff.
One of Franklin’s longest-tenured assistants appears to be on the move. Running backs coach and assistant head coach, Ja’Juan Seider has been hired away from Penn State by Notre Dame. Seider has been on the staff since 2018 and is expected to join the Fighting Irish as the running backs coach.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported that Notre Dame was targeting Seider for the role. 247Sports’ Matt Zenitx reported that Seider is “expected to accept” the job with the Irish.
Penn State’s Ja’Juan Seider is expected to accept the running backs coach job at Notre Dame, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Seider, whom ESPN previously reported was being targeted by Notre Dame, has been a key part of Penn State’s staff since 2018.… pic.twitter.com/Yni8UXvNh8
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 9, 2025
Notre Dame lost its running backs coach, Deland McCullough, to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Marcus Freeman went big to find his replacement. Seider was key in signing and developing Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who both rushed for 1,000 yards last season. Seider will now lead a running back room led by Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.
Despite the talent Sider is entering in South Bend, Freeman likely targeted the Penn State assistant due to his recruiting skills. The Irish lost both of their early running back commitments to other programs.
It is a surprising move for Seider and a massive blow for Franklin and Penn State. During the 2023 season, he said, “It would have to make a lot of sense for me to leave this place.” Considering that both Singleton and Allen are returning for their final year, it is even more of a surprise why Seider would leave.
With so much of Penn State’s nucleus returning next season and Jim Knowles’s addition to lead the defense, Franklin will have to make another significant hire to lead his star-studded backfield this year and build another one in the near future.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State’s Ja’Juan Seider hired as Notre Dame running backs coach
