Penn State hires Justin Lustig away from Vanderbilt to coach special teams and 2 other positions

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Justin Lustig has been hired to coach Penn State’s special teams and two other positions, the school announced Wednesday.

Lustig was associate head coach and special teams coordinator at Vanderbilt the past two seasons. He takes over for Stacy Collins, who took an assistant’s job at Boise State last week.

Lustig also will coach outside linebackers and nickelbacks for the Nittany Lions.

“I have followed Justin’s career closely and have been thoroughly impressed with the way his special teams units have consistently performed,” coach James Franklin said in a statement. “He’s spent 19 seasons as a special teams coordinator and also brings valuable experience from a very successful stint as a head coach. Justin is a Pennsylvania guy who will fit in well within our organization and this Happy Valley community.”

The Commodores ranked in the top 50 in ESPN’s special teams efficiency analytic the past two years. Last season they were among 20 teams to block multiple punts, and they finished 11th in net punting.

Lustig, an Erie native who played at Bucknell from 1997-2000, previously coached 2018 Lou Groza Award winner Andre Szmyt at Syracuse and 2023 Ray Guy Award finalist Matthew Hayball and two-time All-SEC long snapper Wesley Schelling at Vanderbilt. He also had coaching stints at Syracuse, Edinboro, Ball State, Louisiana, Eastern Illinois, Christopher Newport and Villanova.

“Growing up in Pennsylvania I have long held the Penn State program as the gold standard of college football,” Lustig said. “My family and I are incredibly excited for this opportunity to come back to our home state and join this historic program. I want to thank Coach Franklin for this opportunity to join the Penn State Football staff. I’m eager to get to work with this remarkable staff and community.”