Jim Knowles is getting his guys.

Penn State football has hired former Penn State defensive lineman and current UAlbany head coach Greg Gattuso as a defensive line consultant, according to Rodger Wyland of WNYT, the Great Danes’ play-by-play broadcaster.

Head coach Greg Gattuso is leaving UAlbany after 11 seasons and returning to his Alma mater Penn State as a defensive line consultant and to work closely with new Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles. Press conference set for later today @WNYT

— Rodger Wyland (@RodgerWyland) February 5, 2025

Gattuso played for the Nittany Lions from 1981 to 1983, winning the national title in 1982.

The former stalwart defensive lineman has spent the last 11 seasons as the head coach at UAlbany. During his time leading the Great Danes, he helped his team to its highest-ever ranking in 2022 and a Coastal Athletic Association championship in 2023.

Including his time as the Duquesne head coach, Gattuso holds a 151-101 record as a head coach. The former Penn State player also spent time with Maryland and Pittsburgh before landing his job at Albany.

He has also been part of the development of players such as Jared Verse, who played three years under Gattuso before transferring to Florida State and getting picked in the first round of the NFL draft.

Gattuso is the third defensive assistant hired by Penn State recently, joining Georgetown’s defensive backs coach Shane Eachus, and Brent Zdebski, Ohio State’s quality control assistant, who were both hired as defensive analysts.

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