STATE COLLEGE, Pa. | Tom Allen, Penn State’s new defensive coordinator, also will coach the Nittany Lions’ linebackers, a prospect he seemed even more eager to discuss upon joining the program. As a former linebacker, Allen seemed pretty amped up to ditch the hustle and bustle of head coaching and return to his roots.
Former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz often shared similar sentiments in his time at Penn State, saying he was just happy to get back to teaching players. Allen said he’s most excited to be able to once again“dive into film and get behind the “why” of defense.
“I want to be able to really study. I love this time of year, once we get off the road, and being able to just talk ball. I already talked to some DCs about getting together, and I haven’t done that the last seven years,” Allen said. “There’s no magic defense. The magic, I believe, is in the players, and the magic is in their belief. But you gotta know why you got the answers. The ‘why’ part of what you do, I think you have time in the offseason to really dive into that.”
An Indiana native and a member of the Hoosiers’ staff for eight years, Allen surely has Indiana soft spot. But he also talked at length recently about Penn State’s defensive tradition, especially at his linebacker spot, that has him excited for the next move.
Allen took note of Sean Lee introducing one of Penn State’s class of 2024 signees during the team’s Signing Day ceremony. He was giddy at having former Penn State All-American linebacker Dan Connor on the staff as a defensive analyst. Allen also gushed over the legacy of the No. 11 jersey, built by LaVar Arrington and carried on by the unlockable Micah Parsons, who Allen made sure to say he was quite excited to see leave college.
“I didn’t have to be told, I knew,” Allen said of Penn State’s pedigree at linebacker. “I played the position since I was in fifth grade, and in high school I played for my dad. In college I played linebacker. My son [Thomas, who also is joining Penn State’s staff as a defensive analyst] played for me at Indiana. He played linebacker.
“That’s where my eyes go on that side of the ball. That’s where my heart is on that side of the football. And I sat in pretty much every linebacker meeting at Indiana as the head coach. I love, love that position, and I’m so excited to be able to be a part of a place that’s known for that.”
Allen met with the current No. 11, Abdul Carter, in the Lasch Building weight room last week. He told Carter that Indiana had trouble blocking him this year, but Allen continued to say he’s excited to be part of unlocking a higher potential he sees in Carter.
That’s just one example of Allen’s next steps at Penn State, which hinge on building relationships over the next month. Having been hired one day before the early signing period, things are a bit of a whirlwind for Allen. He took video calls with some of Penn State’s signees last week night and will get to know them more later.
Allen will travel to the Peach Bowl with Penn State, where he won’t coach but can spend time learning the current roster and culture. (Anthony Poindexter and Robb Smith will serve as co-defensive coordinators.) Those relationships he’ll be working on, with a lot of one-on-one, will be a big part of Allen’s next chapter.
“[Relationships aren’t] just hanging out with them during practice or being near them physically, it’s 1-on-1 time, getting to know them, getting to know their families and just every part of their life. The things that they value, what’s important to them, and that takes time,” Allen said. He’ll meet with each player individually to learn their goals and attack them. “How are you going to chase greatness every single day?”
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