As James Franklin is now working to build a coaching staff under his new role as the Virginia Tech Hokies’ head coach, he’s been looking to bring over people who worked with him during his long tenure as the Penn State Nittany Lions’ head coach.
There was one coach that Franklin just recently added to his staff in Blacksburg, W.Va. Now, though, that coach has decided to go back to Happy Valley and join the Nittany Lions’ new head coach and his staff in the 2026 college football season.
James Franklin Loses Coach Back to Penn State
On3 reporter Greg Pickel wrote on Thursday that Penn State football is bringing former special teams analyst Matt Colangelo back to State College as the Nittany Lions’ assistant special teams coordinator in 2026.
Pickel noted that Colangelo previously left the program to follow James Franklin to Virginia Tech, though his tenure in Blacksburg was brief. He added that it was unclear how long Colangelo was with the Hokies, but the stint lasted long enough for the school to create — and later delete — a staff member page for him
Pickel indicated that Colangelo joined Penn State’s staff last season and worked under special teams coordinator Justin Lustig. Lustig is planning to return as part of new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell’s staff for the 2026 college football season.
Colangelo previously served as special teams coordinator at Villanova before joining Penn State’s staff under Franklin.
Franklin began his head coaching career with three seasons leading the Vanderbilt Commodores. From 2011 to 2013, Franklin compiled a 24-15 overall record and a 2-1 mark in bowl games. While Vanderbilt lost the Liberty Bowl in 2011, the Commodores won the Music City Bowl and BBVA Compass Bowl.
In fact, under Franklin’s leadership, Vanderbilt finished No. 23 and No. 24, respectively, in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll for the 2012 and 2013 college football seasons.
Under Franklin’s leadership, Vanderbilt finished No. 23 and No. 24, respectively, in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll for the 2012 and 2013 college football seasons.
Franklin then moved to Penn State, where he worked to stabilize a program that had endured difficult times.
In 12 seasons with the Nittany Lions, Franklin posted a 104-45 overall record and a 6-6 mark in bowl games. He led Penn State to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024, when the Nittany Lions won the Orange Bowl but lost in the Fiesta Bowl.
He reached the Fiesta Bowl twice, winning both games, and the Rose Bowl Classic twice, going 1-1, during his time in State College, Pa. Penn State opened the 2025 college football season with a 3-3 record, and the school ultimately decided to move on from Franklin.
Now at Virginia Tech, Franklin will look to add a new coach to his staff.
