1997 staff
| Coach | Role | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach1 | ||
| Joe Paterno | Head Coach | 1970 |
| Coordinators3 | ||
| Fran Ganter | Offensive Coordinator | 1984 |
| Jerry Sandusky | Defensive Coordinator · Linebackers | 1977 |
| Larry Johnson | Special Teams Coordinator · Defensive Ends | 1996 |
| Position coaches4 | ||
| Bill Kenney | Offensive Line | 1993 |
| Dick Anderson | Quarterbacks | 1993 |
| Jay Paterno | Tight Ends · Recruiting Coordinator | 1995 |
| Tom Bradley | Defensive Backs | 1996 |
| Analysts1 | ||
| Jeff Nixon | Graduate Assistant | 1997 |
A stint appears in a season when it overlaps it, so a coach hired in 1997 and a coach in their ninth year both show here, each with the full range of their stint.