The Penn State Nittany Lions announced a new hire on Friday, bringing Stan Drayton aboard as the team’s next running backs coach. This move comes as the coaching staff experiences changes under head coach James Franklin, strengthening the Nittany Lions’ lineup.
Penn State’s decision to hire Drayton follows his tenure as head coach of the Temple Owls, where he spent three seasons before the two parted ways after the 2024 season. The announcement was officially made with a release on Friday afternoon. According to the program, “Drayton, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, joins the Nittany Lions after spending three seasons as the head coach at Temple. He is a 32-year coaching veteran with 25 years of experience coaching running backs, having been part of two national championship coaching staffs and bringing five years of NFL coaching experience.”
Familiar with the Big Ten, Drayton previously coached at Ohio State from 2011 to 2014. This offseason, Penn State made significant coaching moves, including hiring Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, a decision that sent shockwaves throughout the conference and nationally, as Knowles is considered one of the top coordinators in the country.
With Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton returning for the Nittany Lions this season, Drayton will have a talented roster to work with. As Penn State aims for a National Championship contender status next year, he will be pivotal in coaching up these promising running backs.
