1971 staff
| Coach | Role | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach1 | ||
| Joe Paterno | Head Coach | 1970 |
| Position coaches9 | ||
| John Chuckran | Offensive Line | 1971 |
| Bob Phillips | Assistant Coach | 1970 |
| Frank Patrick | Assistant Coach | 1949 |
| George Welsh | Assistant Coach | 1963 |
| J. T. White | Assistant Coach | 1970 |
| Jerry Sandusky | Assistant Coach | 1970 |
| Jim O'Hora | Assistant Coach | 1970 |
| Jim Weaver | Assistant Coach | 1967 |
| John Chuckran | Assistant Coach | 1970 |
A stint appears in a season when it overlaps it, so a coach hired in 1971 and a coach in their ninth year both show here, each with the full range of their stint.