Penn State seeks to fill key recruiting staff role ahead of big White Out weekend

Penn State football is seeking to fill a key recruiting staff role just days before its biggest home game of the year from a visitor perspective. The university posted a job listing to fill the position of recruiting coordinator for operations and visits on Tuesday. Catherine Kennedy previously held that role for the last two seasons and the start of this one.

“So grateful for it all Penn State football,” Kennedy wrote on Instagram. “Can’t wait for what’s next.”

Kennedy joined the Lions in 2023 after previously working for Charles Huff at Marshall.

What does a recruiting coordinator for operations and visits do at Penn State?

As you can likely imagine, the person who Penn State picks to replace Kennedy will handle all sorts of duties related to campus visits.

“This position will coordinate the football program’s Offensive/Defensive recruiting strategies and operations,” the job posting says. “The successful candidate will manage the football program’s planning and operation of all unofficial and official visits including all game day recruiting events, which includes making all necessary reservations for the visits and negotiating contracts with related vendors;

“Coordinate ticket requests for home football games and other home Penn State sporting events from prospective student athletes; communicate all pertinent visit information to groups inside and outside of Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics; coordinate the coaching staff’s recruiting efforts by writing, texting and direct message prospective student athletes and their parents to establish a relationship and keep them informed of all events and changes in the football program; must fully understand NCAA/Big 10 regulations and maintain compliance.”

Those tasks are surely being split up right now. Planning for the White Out has been ongoing for months and continues this week. BWI has already confirmed more than 60 visitors for next week’s clash with Oregon.

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Who makes up the Lions recruiting staff?

Here’s the breakdown of the department that is overseen by Andy Frank and Kenny Sanders:

Here’s the recruiting department staff list:

Andy Frank – General manager of personnel and recruitment

Kenny Sanders – Director of player personnel 

Caleb Tyler – Director of recruiting content

Bob Palko – Director of high school relations

D.J. Bryant – Recruiting coordinator for personnel and recruitment

Chris Mahon – Recruiting coordinator for personnel and recruitment

Naz Oliver – Recruiting coordinator* (replaces Khalil Ahmad)

Alan Zemaitis – Recruiting coordinator for personnel

Rashad Elby – Associate director for player advancement and revenue sharing strategy

Karsyn Kehler – Assistant recruiting coordinator for operations and visits

Rashad Rich – Assistant recruiting coordinator for personnel and recruitment