The Penn State football program adds a familiar name to its 2021 staff. Former Nittany Lions star Alan Zemaitis joins the group as assistant recruiting coordinator, according to a tweet from Wednesday night of National Recruitment Coordinator, PSU, Kenny Sanders.
Zemaitis responded quickly, quoting “I come home to finish what I started. “He was a three-time All-Big pick while playing cornerback at Penn State, won All-American Awards as a senior in 2005 and was named a semi-finalist twice for Jim Thorpe. Award, given annually. Awarded to the best defensive rugby of the university football.
He was a captain of the Orange Bowl champion in 2005 and achieved his career as fourth place in the team’s record books, with twelve careers. Semaitis broke through a second year and secured four interceptions and led the conference with 18 pass breakups.
He became a draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round in 2006. Semaitis later spent time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Soccer League competition.
During his days as a Nittany lion, Zemaitis faced serious adversity in the form of a serious car accident, as documented in a 2005 article written by our own Mark Brennan:
Zemaitis drove back to University Park during the crash of his home in Rochester, NY, which occurred on State Route 15 in a remote area of north-central Pennsylvania. He was taken by helicopter to a hospital, [his scalp] stitched together and – surprisingly – returned to his family in Rochester within three days. Even more surprising: he recovered quickly enough to take part in the Nittany Lions’ spring practice two months later.
But the consequences of the accident lingered. They still do, even with Zemaitis, now a fifth-year senior captain, aiming to become the first PSU cornerback to win the All-America honor in the first team. On the right side of his face and scalp, so many nerves have been cut off that much of the area remains numb. … However, it is not necessary to ask him about the car wreck, because a new tattoo on his left arm tells the whole story. The focal point is a Route 15 sign, with the word “Tragedy” above and “Triumph” below. He not only runs away from the accident but also accepts it as an important part of his life.
The 38-year-old Zemaitis served on the coaching staff at Division III Susquehanna University for quite a few seasons dates back to 2012, and recently acted as special team coordinator and safety coach. According to the program’s website, its primary recruitment areas were Pennsylvania (Cumberland and Dauphin Counties), New Jersey (Essex, Union, Bergen and Hudson Counties), and Maryland (Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties and Baltimore City).
His return to Happy Valley comes two weeks after Penn State brought back Sanders, who had previously held the title. Nittany Lions’ assistant director of player staff for five seasons before taking over as Oregon’s recruiting director in 2019.
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