Penn State football is bringing back a familiar face with a new title. Former special teams analyst Matt Colangelo is returning to the Nittany Lions as their assistant special teams coordinator for the 2026 season. This move comes after a brief departure to Virginia Tech, where he joined head coach James Franklin's staff. However, his time in Blacksburg was short-lived, as the program created a staff page for him that has since been deleted. It's unclear how long he stayed with the Hokies.
Colangelo joined Penn State's staff in 2025 under then-second-year special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, who will return for a third season in 2026. Lustig, considered one of the top special teams coordinators in the sport, is a key retention for head coach Matt Campbell. Franklin praised Colangelo's work, stating he was 'doing a great job for us' before the Lions hosted Villanova.
Colangelo, a native of Cromwell, Connecticut, has also coached at Yale. His primary recruiting territory includes New England, and he has coached players who earned CAA Football All-Conference honors. For the 2026 season, Penn State's special teams outlook looks promising. Lustig's special teams unit ranked No. 1 in ESPN's FPI special teams efficiency rankings for the 2025 season.
The Nittany Lions have a consistent placekicker in Ryan Barker, but they need a new kickoff specialist and punter to replace Gabe Nwosu. Cristiano Rosa, a transfer from James Madison, is now at Penn State to handle kickoff duties, while Nathan Tiyce, a transfer from Mississippi State, is competing with Matthew Parker and Lucas Tenbrock for the punter role. During spring practice, competitions will be held to find kick and punt returners.
This move marks a significant return for Colangelo, who brings valuable experience and a strong reputation to Penn State's special teams unit.
