Penn State football strength coach Chuck Losey is leaving the Lions for Virginia Tech

Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey, who once said that ‘James Franklin is my guy,’ will be leaving the Nittany Lions to follow his old boss to Virginia Tech. BWI had previously reported that it was a matter of when, not if, Losey would move on. Now, like former PSU tight ends coach Ty Howle and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien, who are going to Virginia Tech, he is no longer in the athletic department’s online directory.

The news is not a surprise. Losey has been on Franklin’s staff dating back to their time together at Vanderbilt and was the most likely member of his last Lions staff to leave State College for Blacksburg ahead of the 2026 season.

It was not immediately clear if any other members of the Penn State strength and conditioning program would be following Losey south. All of them are listed in the aforementioned directory as of 7:10 p.m. ET on Dec. 11.

“James Franklin is my guy,” Losey said this summer. “Coach Franklin is my guy. I don’t want to work for anybody else in this profession. I know what I’m going to get from him every day. He knows what he’s going to get from me every day. We have a strong relationship. We’re like-minded. We have the same goals. I don’t take that for granted. I’ve got a ton of appreciation for that. I know what this profession has been, [and] have an idea of where it is right now.

“I know what’s out there, and I’m just so appreciative to have the opportunity to come to work at a place like this every day.”

Who will lead the Lions’ strength and conditioning efforts under Matt Campbell?

The new Penn State coach has already made two hires in this area.

Former Iowa State Director of Football Performance Operations Aaron Hillmann is now here as the Sport Performance Manager for Football. Per his ISU bio, he oversaw “the Cyclones’ sports performance units, including strength and conditioning and nutrition.”

Former Cyclones Director of Football Strength and Conditioning Reid Kagy is now also with the Lions. His title now is Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Football.

Tracking the Penn State coaches who left for Virginia Tech

Losey follows a number of other on- and off-field staff members who are leaving Penn State for Virginia Tech. That list includes:

Co-offensive coordinator Ty Howle – Will be the OC at Virginia Tech.

Quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien

Assistant Athletics Director for Football Performance Enhancement Chuck Losey

Special teams analyst Matt Colangelo

Assistant tight ends coach David Rocco

Chief of Staff Kevin Threlkel

General Manager of Personnel and Recruitment Andy Frank

Assistant Director of Player Relations Brett Arnold

Recruiting Coordinator for Personnel Chris Mahon

Assistant Recruiting Coordinator for Personnel Rashad Elby

Aeneas Hawkins, Assistant Director of Player Advancement & Revenue Sharing Strategy

Director of Recruiting Content Caleb Tyler

Director of External Operations Tristin Iannone

Assistant Recruiting Coordinator for Operations and Visits Karsyn Kehler

Director of Internal Operations & Head Coach Logistics Heidi Erb