Sean Spencer

• Sean Spencer is in his sixth season as the Nittany Lions’ defensive line coach and fourth as the run game coordinator. He added the title of associate head coach in 2018.
• The Nittany Lions has posted four-straight 40-sack seasons (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), the first such streak for the Nittany Lions since team sacks were recorded in 1988.
• In 2018, the defense was a permanent fixture in the opposition’s backfield in 2018, leading the country in sacks (3.62) for the second time in the last four years and ranking fourth in tackles for loss (8.2).
• Yetur Gross-Matos (first team), Shareef Miller (third team) and Robert Windsor (honorable mention) all earned spots on the 2018 All-Big Ten team.
• Gross-Matos became the 11th Nittany Lion to record 20 tackles for loss in a season (12th time). He finished tied for eighth on PSU’s single-season TFLs list with Bruce Clark (1978), Todd Atkins (1994), LaVar Arrington (1999) and Aaron Maybin (2008).
• Spencer’s defensive line finished seventh in FBS in sacks (3.23 spg) to help the Nittany Lions to a second-straight New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since 1985 (Orange) and 1986 (Fiesta).
• Three of Spencer’s protégés, Miller (third team), Curtis Cothran (honorable mention) and Parker Cothren (honorable mention), claimed All-Big Ten honors.
• As a unit, the defense finished in the Top 25 in FBS in scoring defense (7th; 16.5), sacks (7th; 3.23), rushing defense (14th; 118.0), total defense (17th; 329.5), team passing efficiency defense (21st; 114.88), turnovers gained (23rd; 25) and tackles for loss (25th; 7.2).
• Penn State’s 16.5 points allowed per game were the fewest since the 2009 squad gave up 12.2 tallies per contest.
• The “Wild Dogs” reloaded after graduating three players to the NFL and did not miss a step in 2016, finishing seventh in FBS in tackles for loss (8.1) and 19th in sacks (2.86) to play a pivotal role in Penn State’s Big Ten Championship run.
• Defensive end Garrett Sickels (second team) and senior defensive end Evan Schwan (third team) collected All-Big Ten laurels after tying for the team lead with 6.0 sacks apiece. Sickels had 12.5 tackles for loss, while Schwan had 8.5 hits behind the line.
• Spencer’s influence was front and center in 2015 as the defensive line paced a unit that led the FBS in sacks (3.54 spg), was sixth in tackles for loss (8.2) and 14th in total defense (324.5).
• Under Spencer’s guidance former walk-on Carl Nassib burst onto the national scene, winning the Rotary Lombardi Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Hendricks Award and Woodson-Nagurski Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year while breaking the Penn State single-season sacks record with 15.5 in 2015. Nassib also became Penn State’s 13th unanimous Consensus All-American.
• Defensive tackles Austin Johnson (second team) and Anthony Zettel (third team) garnered 2015 All-Big Ten honors.
• Spencer was selected a finalist for Football Scoop’s Defensive Line Coach of the Year in 2014, as he led a unit that helped Penn State finish No. 3 in the FBS rushing defense (100.5) and second in total defense (278.7).
• Spencer mentored Zettel to first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2014 after recording 17.0 tackles for loss, including 8.0 sacks, and a team-best tying three interceptions.
• During his 2011-13 tenure at Vanderbilt, Spencer’s defensive lines helped Vanderbilt finish in the top 25 in total defense all three years.
• The Commodores recorded 28, 31 and 28 sacks under Spencer, with the defensive line posting 42.5 tackles for loss in 2013.
• Spencer coached the Bowling Green defensive line in 2009-10, where he mentored Chris Jones to All-Mid-American Conference honors and helped the Falcons to the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl.
• Spencer had two stints at Massachusetts, coaching the defensive line in 2007-08 and in 2001-03.
• He also has coached at Hofstra (2006), Villanova (2005), Holy Cross (2004), where he worked with Ricky Rahne, Trinity College (1998-2000), Shippensburg (1996-97) and Wesleyan (1995).

• Spencer was a three-year starter at safety at Clarion (Pa.) University.
• He was named to the 1992 NCAA Division II Preseason All-America team by Sporting News.

• Shareef Miller (Penn State) - Philadelphia Eagles; 2019 NFL Draft fourth-round pick
• Kevin Givens (Penn State) - San Francisco 49ers
• Curtis Cothran (Penn State) - Minnesota Vikings
• Carl Nassib (Penn State) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2016 NFL Draft third-round pick; Lombardi, Lott & Hendricks Award winner; Consensus All-American
• Austin Johnson (Penn State) - Tennessee Titans; 2016 NFL Draft second-round pick; 2015 All-Big Ten second team
• Anthony Zettel (Penn State) - Cleveland Browns; 2016 NFL Draft sixth-round pick; Two-time All-Big Ten honoree
• Adam Butler (Vanderbilt) - New England Patriots; Super Bowl LIII Champion
• Stephen Weatherly (Vanderbilt) - Minnesota Vikings; 2016 NFL Draft seventh-round pick
• Chris Jones (Bowling Green) - NFL (2013-17); 2012 All-American first team
• Valdamar Brower (Massachusetts) - 2002 All-American second team
• David Burris (Massachusetts) - 2007 All-American honorable mention
• Tim Fugger (Vanderbilt) - 2012 NFL Draft seventh-round pick; 2011 All-SEC second team
• Rob Lohr (Vanderbilt) - CFL (2014); NFL (2013)
• Brian Hulea (Villanova) - 2005 All-American first team
• Keron Williams (Massachusetts) - CFL (2006-13); 2005 All-Atlantic 10 first team

 

The Spencer File 

Personal 

Hometown: Hartford, Conn.
Alma Mater: Clarion University
Degree: Bachelors, Political Science
Family: daughter, Alysia

Coaching Career

2018-present - Penn State (associate head coach/run game coordinator/defensive line)
2014-17 - Penn State (defensive line)
2011-13 - Vanderbilt (defensive line)
2009-10 - Bowling Green (defensive line)
2007-08 - Massachusetts (defensive line, special teams coordinator)
2006 - Hofstra (defensive line)
2005 - Villanova (linebackers)
2004 - Holy Cross (defensive line)
2001-03 - Massachusetts (defensive line)
1998-2000 - Trinity College (running backs, passing game coordinator, defensive line)
1996-97 - Shippensburg (running backs)

Bowl/Playoff Games as a Coach

• 2019 VRBO Citrus Bowl Penn State
• 2017 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl Penn State
• 2017 Rose Bowl Penn State
• 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl Penn State
• 2014 Pinstripe Bowl Penn State
• 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl Vanderbilt
• 2012 Music City Bowl Vanderbilt
• 2011 Liberty Bowl Vanderbilt
• 2009 Humanitarian Bowl Bowling Green
• 2007 FCS First & Second Round UMass
• 2003 FCS First Round UMass