End of an Era: Penn State Talent Says Goodbye After 8 Seasons with Nittany Lions

A pivotal chapter in Penn State football has come to a close as a key talent departs after eight impactful seasons with the Nittany Lions.

Former Penn State running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider described his seven years with the program as “nothing short of incredible” in a social media post. Seider, who was recently announced as the new running backs coach and assistant head coach at Notre Dame, will join Marcus Freeman’s staff. Notre Dame, notably, beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championship game.

In his message, Seider reflected on his time at Penn State, highlighting the playoff runs, bowl games, and memorable seasons as some of his family’s most treasured experiences. He spoke fondly of coaching in front of 110,000 fans and praised the players, staff, and community as some of the most special people he’s known.

Seider held multiple roles during his seven seasons at Penn State, including running backs coach, run game coordinator, co-offensive coordinator, and assistant head coach. He was well-known for mentoring players like Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who both became 1,000-yard rushers under his guidance.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman praised Seider as an excellent offensive mind with a track record of developing high-level running backs, noting his success in turning them into NFL talent as a major reason for his hiring.

Penn State has since hired former Temple head coach Stan Drayton as Seider’s replacement. Drayton brings 25 years of experience coaching running backs at both the college and NFL levels. Penn State head coach James Franklin expressed appreciation for Seider’s contributions to the program, calling his seven-year tenure a significant commitment in today’s college football landscape. He also wished Seider and his family the best in their next chapter.

In his farewell letter, addressed to “Dear Old State,” Seider expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach at Penn State and thanked the administration, Coach Franklin, and his players for their support. He especially cherished having his son Jaden by his side during his time with the program.