Penn State football has hired two defensive analysts with ties to new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, according to the university’s staff directory. Shane Eachus and Brent Zdebski were added to the directory after Knowles’ introductory press conference.

Eachus will join the Nittany Lions after two seasons as a defensive backs coach for Georgetown. Eachus started his career as a graduate assistant and director of player relations at James Madison from 2012 to 2014. He then worked at Ursinus as a defensive coordinator and secondary coach from 2014 to 2017. He accepted the job of defensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma State under Knowles, mainly developing linebackers from 2018 to 2020. Eachus then went to coach at the Houston Christian University where he was a defensive coordinator and safeties coach for a year.

In 2023, Eachus’ Georgetown group led the Patriot League with 10 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Eachus contributed to the development of All-Patriot League Second Team players Rashon Adams Jr. and Jaden Dugger.

Zdebski comes to Penn State after two seasons as Ohio State’s defensive quality control coach. Before his time at Ohio State, Zdebski spent the 2021 season under Knowles at Oklahoma State, where he helped coach safeties, including All-American Kolby Harvell-Peel. From 2018 to 2020, he was a defensive graduate assistant at Wisconsin, working with outside linebackers. Zdebski also held roles at UMass, Eastern Michigan, and Central Michigan.

Michigan fans accused Zdebski of putting together a Connor Stalions-esque sign-stealing scheme in October 2023, though there was little concrete evidence tying Zdebski to any illegal activities.