Source: Penn State special teams coordinator Justin Lustig to return for 2026
Another member of Penn State’s 2025 coaching staff is set to return to the program.
Justin Lustig is expected back on staff as special teams coordinator, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Lustig also coached nickels and outside linebackers last season.
Lions247’s Daniel Gallen first reported Tuesday evening that Lustig would return as special teams coordinator.
Lustig is now the second assistant coach from last year’s staff to return, joining associate head coach Terry Smith. Linebackers coach Dan Connor is a strong candidate to return as well.
According to a source, Lustig is staying on despite interest from Virginia Tech, where former Penn State coach James Franklin is the current head coach. Lustig will instead stay on with new PSU head coach Matt Campbell, who did not have a special teams coordinator in his time at Iowa State.
Lustig is a Pennsylvania native and will be entering his third season for the Nittany Lions after stints as the special teams coordinator at Louisiana Lafayette, Ball State, Syracuse and Vanderbilt, to go with one year as the head coach at Edinboro. He played college football at Bucknell, where he was a defensive back.
