UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Veteran NFL coach Jim Haslett will serve as a consultant for the Penn State football team. In his role with the Nittany Lions, Haslett will work with the Penn State football coaches, staff and program.
"We are very excited to have Jim with our program," head coach James Franklin said. "Jim has an outstanding football mind and invaluable experience that will be a tremendous resource. He has great knowledge of the game at the next level and we plan to put that to good use. He will work with our offensive, special teams and defensive coaches and will be a fantastic sounding board for our staff."
"I am thrilled to join the Penn State football family," Haslett said. "James is one of the great, young head coaches in the collegiate game today and he is leading this Penn State program in the right direction. The future is very bright for Penn State football and I am excited to be a part of it."
The Pittsburgh native was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2000-05 and was also the interim head coach for the St. Louis Rams for part of the 2008 season. Haslett led the Saints to the 2000 NFC West Championship en route to being a unanimous choice for AP Coach of the Year. He also claimed Coach of the Year honors from The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly after guiding the Saints to their first-ever playoff win.
Haslett, who was a second round NFL Draft pick by the Buffalo Bills, is the only person to be recognized as a College Football Hall of Famer (2001), AP NFL Coach of the Year (2000) and Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year (1979).
Haslett was most recently the Washington Redskins defensive coordinator from 2010-14. During his time in Washington, he produced three Pro Bowl linebackers and a second-team All-Pro linebacker in London Fletcher. In Haslett's first four years (2010-13,) the Redskins accumulated 105 takeaways, the team's highest four-year total since recording 110 (2002-05).
Prior to joining the Redskins, Haslett spent the 2009 season coaching the UFL's Florida Tuskers. He led the Tuskers to a perfect 6-0 record and was selected as the league's Coach of the Year.
As a player, Haslett was an inside linebacker for the Bills from 1979-85, earning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1979 and All-Pro accolades in 1980. He was named to the franchise's Silver Anniversary team.
Haslett played his collegiate ball at Indiana (Pa.), where he was a four-time Little All-America selection at linebacker and defensive end. He was also an accomplished punter at IUP, where he still ranks second in single-season and career punting average. His son, Chase, is now the quarterback for the Crimson Hawks.
Haslett and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, Kelsey and Libby, and a son, Chase.
The Nittany Lions open the 2015 campaign on the road against Temple at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 5.
Season tickets for the 2015 campaign are on sale, with more than 3,600 new season tickets having been sold. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2015 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.