Feb. 14, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Football coach Bill O'Brien announced today that Anthony Midget has been named the Nittany Lions' safeties coach.
O'Brien also announced that John Butler, who was promoted to defensive coordinator in January, will continue to coach the Nittany Lion cornerbacks.
"Anthony will be a great addition to our staff," O'Brien stated. "He is an experienced and passionate defensive coach and recruiter. We welcome Anthony to our team and look forward to his contributions to the program."
"It's an honor to be a part of the Penn State family and this great University," Midget said. "I am thankful to Coach O'Brien for the opportunity to come to Penn State and am excited to get to know the players and get ready for spring practice."
From Clewiston, Fla., Midget was a member of the Georgia State University coaching staff since 2008, rising to defensive coordinator during the 2012 season. He joined the collegiate coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech, his alma mater, helping the Hokies win the 2007 ACC Championship. Midget then was hired by Coach Bill Curry as secondary coach and special teams coordinator to help Georgia State launch its program, starting play in 2010.
A cornerback at Virginia Tech, Midget was a four-year letterman and three-year starter under Coach Frank Beamer. He helped the Hokies to four consecutive bowl berths, capped by an appearance in the 1999 BCS title game. Midget was a Sporting News third-team All-American and a first-team All-Big East honoree in 1999. The Dean's List student graduated from Virginia Tech in 1999 and was selected to the Big East All-Academic Team.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Midget in the fifth round of the 2000 National Football League Draft. He also was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Midget coached four years at Lake Worth (Fla.) High School, rising to assistant head coach, before returning to Virginia Tech in 2007.
In his first season as the Nittany Lions' head coach, O'Brien was selected the Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN Coach of the Year and the Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year. The Nittany Lions won eight of their final 10 games, beating eventual Big Ten champion Wisconsin, 24-21, in overtime, on Senior Day to finish 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. O'Brien's eight wins were the most by a first-year Penn State coach in the 126 years of the program.
Penn State returns 16 starters and 38 letterwinners for the 2013 season. The Nittany Lions will begin spring drills March 18, with the 15 practices culminating in the Blue-White game, the highlight of the spring sports season. Blue-White Weekend is April 19-21, with the game on the Saturday, April 20 in Beaver Stadium
Season tickets are available for the 2013 campaign. The Nittany Lions will host three teams that finished in the 2012 BCS Top 25: Michigan (Oct. 12-Homecoming), Nebraska (Nov. 23) and Kent State (Sept. 21). Purdue, Illinois, UCF and Eastern Michigan also will visit Beaver Stadium this fall. Penn State opens the season Aug. 31 vs. Syracuse at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Penn State Athletics is on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pennstatenittanylions) and Twitter (http://www.gopsusports.com/ot/twitter.html).