MISHAWAKA — Just like in 2003, Penn is keeping its head football coaching hire in-house.
Pete Riordan has been named the new head of the Kingsmen program, replacing the retiring Corey Yeoman. Riordan has been an assistant coach for 20 years, most recently as defensive coordinator. This is similar to the path Yeoman took to become head coach, as he served as an assistant under Chris Giesman for 19 years before becoming head coach.
“It was a great ride.”Pennsylvania High School football coach Corey Yeoman rides off into the sunset
“I am humbled and incredibly honored to have been selected to be the next head coach at the University of Pennsylvania, continuing the success and tradition of the Long Black Line,” Riordan said in a statement. “It's a big responsibility, but I'm excited to take on it.”
Riordan surprised the team with the news Wednesday morning. He will be Penn's third head coach in the last 50 years, after Giesman for 39 years and Yeoman for 21 years.
Riordan played on the 1995 state champion South Bend St. Joseph football team. He began working as a teacher at Penn in his 2000 year, then spent his three years (2007-2009) at Davis High School in Indianapolis while his wife Nicole worked in a medical dormitory. ).
“Coach Riordan brings a track record of elite success on and off the field to this role,” Penn Athletic Director Jeff Hart said in a statement. “He won a state championship as a high school athlete, and his 20 years of coaching under Hall of Fame coaches at both Penn Davis and Ben Davis shaped him into the person he is today.”
This story will be updated.
