Penn State football is bringing back a familiar face with a new title. Former special teams analyst Matt Colangelo is returning to State College in 2026 as the Nittany Lions' assistant special teams coordinator. 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. Despite this, Colangelo's return to Penn State is significant, as he will work under special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, who is entering his third season with the Nittany Lions. Lustig, considered one of the top special teams coordinators in the sport, led Penn State's special teams to the top spot in ESPN's FPI special teams efficiency rankings for the 2025 season. Colangelo, a Cromwell, Conn., native, brings valuable experience to the team, having previously coached at Yale and Villanova. He has a strong recruiting territory in New England and has coached players who earned CAA Football All-Conference honors. The Nittany Lions' special teams unit is in good hands with Lustig and Colangelo, who will also oversee Rory Walling, a former All-Big 12 special teams player at Iowa State. The team's placekicker, Ryan Barker, is known for his consistency, and they are in the process of finding a new kickoff specialist and punter to replace Gabe Nwosu. Cristiano Rosa, a transfer from James Madison, is already on campus to take on the kickoff specialist role, while Nathan Tiyce, a transfer from Mississippi State, is competing with Matthew Parker and Lucas Tenbrock for the punter position. With the new additions and the return of Colangelo, Penn State's special teams unit is poised for success in the 2026 season.
