“Major Factor” Tom Allen Opens Up About Leaving Penn State for Clemson
Penn State’s defense will look very different this upcoming season.
First, it is losing the best defensive player in the country, Abdul Carter, to the NFL.
Carter is expected to be the first non-quarterback drafted this April. One key reason for Carter’s success last season was the influence of Tom Allen, the Nittany Lions‘ former defensive coordinator.
Allen came to Happy Valley after being let go as the Indidna’s head coach, helping Penn State reach their first-ever College Football Playoff. The 54-year-old coach must’ve not loved his time at Penn State because he left to take the same role at Clemson.
Tom Allen Sounds Off on Taking Clemson Job
Allen joined the 2 Right Turns: A Clemson Football podcast stating why he left the Nittany Lions.
“Oh, there’s no question about it. It was a major factor. I loved my time at Penn State, Papiya Chatterjee from Essentially Sports wrote. “James Franklin gave me a great opportunity. Love the players, the coaches, and we had an amazing season. But then, this opportunity to be able to have all three of our children close with us doesn’t happen very often in this profession. It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.
“Here, my son was able to be a part of the staff as well. He’s going to be an assistant linebackers coach, and he played for us in Indiana. He also has a son and our first grandchild. And he’s a year old now. So have both grandkids close by…that’s great for my wife.”
Allen has noted that his children live in North and South Carolina and was able to have his son join the Clemson coaching staff.
Sometimes, a school cannot keep a coach from leaving, even if the situation is excellent, and it seems like Allen chose his family over Penn State.
MORE Penn State Football News from NittanyCentral:
- Ranking the Nittany Lions’ Top-Five Position Battles to Watch this Spring
- These NFL Teams are Showing The Most Interest in Abdul Carter
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- “Major Factor” Tom Allen Opens Up About Leaving Penn State for Clemson - March 4, 2025
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