Ja’Juan Seider, the Nittany Lions’ assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator, and running backs coach, has announced his departure for Notre Dame, and the reaction has been far from positive. Many fans wonder why Seider would make what they see as a “lateral move” to another program rather than staying with Penn State.
Seider has been with Penn State since 2018 and has helped develop the team’s running backs, including Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Under his leadership, the Nittany Lions boasted one of the nation’s best rushing assaults, averaging more than 200 yards per game last season. Given his success and continuous ascent in the coaching ranks at Penn State, many are perplexed as to why he would move to South Bend for what appears to be a comparable position.
For Notre Dame, this is a huge victory. Seider is anticipated to succeed DeLand McCullough, who just joined the Las Vegas Raiders as running backs coach. With the Fighting Irish coming off a College Football Playoff appearance, they’re looking to expand on their success, and hiring a coach with Seider’s experience is a wise decision.
But Penn State fans don’t see it that way. Many people have resorted to social media to express their dissatisfaction, questioning whether there is more going on behind the scenes.
Make it make sense, though
— PSU7893 (@Psu7893). Date: February 9, 2025…Why? https://t.co/mzDpfmvjtr
— Barstool Penn State (@PSUBarstool), February 9, 2025
This is the second assistant to leave for a post that many perceive to be a “lateral” role, following Tom Allen (former defensive coordinator) who left Penn State to take the same position at Clemson. The Nittany Lions replaced Allen with Ohio State’s Jim Knowles, making him the highest-paid assistant in the nation.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, the move has sparked a lot of debate, and the conversation isn’t going away anytime soon.
Penn State will now need to fill a crucial coaching job, and Notre Dame fans will be excited to see what Seider can bring to their team. Whether this was a genuine “lateral move” or a planned career decision, one thing is certain: it has the college football world buzzing.
