Tom Allen’s Rise to Defensive Coaching Stardom
Even after a prolonged interview process that stretched over several days last winter, Penn State coach James Franklin somehow overlooked his new defensive coordinator’s baggage.
Nothing criminal or creepy or controversial, but coarse. Tom Allen had one devil of a rasp, a voice insulated with sandpaper. That gravelly inflection had been forged on fields in Tampa, where Allen cut his coaching teeth at Temple Heights and Armwood before matriculating back to his native Indiana and to the college ranks, including a glorious stopover at USF.
Now, in his mid-50s, the larynx had become a liability.
The Impact of Allen’s Raspy Voice
“I gotta tell him, back it up a little bit, because it’s a little raspy sometimes,” Lions veteran linebacker Kobe King told Lions247 in August. “But it’s good.”
Except when it wasn’t. When Allen relayed play calls via headset during the first two games, King couldn’t understand him. As a result, Allen moved to the box for Game 3, and defensive analyst Dan Connor put on the headset.
Success Despite Communication Glitches
Four months later, Allen and the Lions are roaring — or rasping — their way into college football’s final four.
Defensive Prowess at Penn State
Having settled the communication glitches, Allen has maintained the defensive stinginess indigenous to Penn State in his inaugural season in Happy Valley. Hired to replace Manny Diaz (now coach at Duke), his unit statistically remains among the nation’s elite.
“I feel really, really blessed to be here,” Allen told reporters after the Lions’ 38-10 romp of SMU in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. “Very thankful to be here.”
Impressive Defensive Stats
Penn State, ranked second nationally in total defense (247.6 yards per game) under Diaz in 2023, ranks sixth this season (288.8). Its run defense, best in the country last season (75.5 yards per game), ranks eighth in 2024 (100.9).
Recognition and Success
Dismissed as Indiana head coach at the end of 2023 (his third consecutive losing season), he has found new life in an old gig: defensive play caller. The ingenuity, betrothal to film study and unbridled gusto that enabled him to scale the coaching ladder again has manifested itself at one of college football’s most storied programs.
Keys to Allen’s Success
“Great at scheming, great at motivating, but I think his greatest feature was his passion and work ethic,” said USF career tackles leader Auggie Sanchez, whose unit flourished during Allen’s lone season with the Bulls in 2015, when the team went 8-5 and earned its first bowl berth in five years. “I still remember our first team meeting, our defensive group was ready to run through a wall for him.”
Defensive Dominance and Achievements
The wrinkles employed by Allen this season have mostly yielded sparkling results. He moved linebacker Abdul Carter to edge rusher in his 4-2-5 alignment, and Carter evolved into the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. His employment of a nickel back has resulted in 18 interceptions for the Lions, fourth-most in the country.
Penn State also ranks fourth nationally in red-zone defense (68.4%), and perhaps most important, seventh in scoring defense (15.8 points per game).
Conclusion
“I’ve been so impressed with just the work ethic of the kids and how much we demand of them and how much they give us, over and over in the season,” Allen said. “It’s already been a long season, and they just keep showing up and working.”
College Football Playoff
*Seeds are listed, not rankings
Upcoming Games
THURSDAY
Semifinal, Orange Bowl
No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens; 7:30, ESPN
FRIDAY
Semifinal, Cotton Bowl
No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State, Arlington, Texas; 7:30, ESPN
JAN. 20
National championship
Atlanta; 7:30, ESPN
FAQs
Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.
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