UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Head coach Jeff Cook added Owen Griffith to his coaching staff and promoted two current members of his staff, Kate Deakins and Callum Pritchatt.
OWEN GRIFFITH
The North Region Staff of the Year will have a familiar face rejoining the program. Former player and coaching staff member Owen Griffith will be returning to Happy Valley as the Volunteer Assistant Coach once again.
Griffith graduated from Penn State in 2014 as a three-time captain who appeared in 77 career matches. As a leader of the team, he led the Nittany Lions to two consecutive Big Ten titles in 2012 and 2013, two NCAA tournament appearances and a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2013. The Lewisburg, Pennsylvania native was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree while also earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. In his senior season, Griffith was named a 2014 Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors over the course of his career.
In 2015 Griffith signed with Eastern Suburbs AFC of New Zealand's Northern Premier League, helping them win both the Northern Premier League and the Chatham Cup during his stint.
Griffith joined head coach at the time Bob Warming's coaching staff as the Volunteer Assistant Coach upon graduating and in his fourth season, was promoted to director of operations. After leaving Penn State, he spent a year as an assistant coach at the University of Denver in 2019.
In the spring of 2020 Griffith returned to Happy Valley to begin his research and obtain his master's degree by December of 2021. He will continue his research into concussion and athletic performance during is PhD studies while working on Coach Cook's staff.
COACH COOK ON GRIFFITH
"I am so pleased to welcome Owen back to the Penn State men's soccer program," said Cook. "He enjoyed a decorated career as a student athlete and was instrumental to the success of this program as a staff member. He has infectious energy and a deep passion for the Nittany Lions. I am excited he will be with us this fall."
CALLUM PRICHATT
Previous Volunteer Assistant Coach Callum Pritchatt will be promoted to Director of Player Development. After a successful playing career for the Nittany Lions where he played in 59 career games from 2017-2020, he joined the coaching staff in 2021.
Pritchatt helps with all aspects of the program including session planning, individual player development, opposition scouting, video analysis and breakdown, recruiting, camp planning and team logistics. He also assists in selecting and purchasing team apparel and equipment, budget operations, scholarship planning, attending compliance meetings regarding new NCAA rules and regulation and overall management of the team's email inbox.
In his first season as a volunteer in 2021, Pritchatt assisted the team to both the 2021 Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. Penn State also advanced to its third-straight NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993-95. The staff was named the United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year for the historic season.
Alongside his coaching commitments with the Nittany Lions, Pritchatt is also works as a coach for the Celtic Soccer Club based in State College. Pritchatt is responsible for the development of the clubs' youngest teams and is responsible for bringing a fun and competitive learning environment.
COOK ON PRITCHATT
Coach Cook said, "Callum's appointment to as our Director of Player Development is a significant step forward for our program. Over the last year, he has excelled in his role on our staff and thoroughly deserves this promotion. I am confident he will make a big impact on his upcoming season in his new role."
KATE DEAKINS
Deakins enters her fourth season with the men's soccer program with a new title. The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) graduate will now be the Director of Operations and Player Care. Deakins is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the team including team travel, budgeting and youth camps. She also serves as the liason to departments across athletics. In addition to operations, she works to ensure players have all needs met on and off the field. She assists players in their transition to and from Penn State University, while focusing on their development off the field as well.
Prior to arriving to Penn State in 2019, Deakins worked as the Director of Football Operations at UNI. She also worked as a tutor and graduate intern for UNI's football academics from 2016-18. Deakins graduated from UNI in May of 2017 with an bachelors degree and in May of 2019 with a masters degree.
COOK ON DEAKINS
"Kate has been an integral member of the staff since her arrival to Penn State," said Cook. "This title appropriately represents her vital role in supporting our student athletes on and off the field. Kate's contributions have gone far beyond our expectations and I am eager to see the innovations she will bring to us in this expanded role."
