Sept. 30, 2008

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lion lacrosse team will have the services of former assistant coach Travis Johnson once again. Johnson has been named assistant coach with the Nittany Lions by head coach Glenn Thiel.

Johnson worked as the lead assistant at Stony Brook for the last two seasons (2007 and 2008). Prior to his position at Stony Brook as defensive coordinator, Johnson was an assistant at Penn State from 2005-06, working primarily with the team's defense. He will act as the defensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions. Johnson began his coaching career at Stevens Institute from 2002-2004.

"We are very excited to welcome Travis back to coordinate our team defense," said Thiel. "He is a very experienced coach, recruiter and teacher of the game. I feel his experience as the top assistant at Stony Brook will be very valuable to the Nittany Lions. We have a great blend of experience and youth on our defense and Travis will be able to maximize our defensive package in front of All-American goalie Drew Adams."

The Nittany Lions will head to Baltimore, Md., this weekend for the Blue Jay Classic, an exhibition tournament at St. Paul's School. Penn State will face Johns Hopkins and North Carolina with action beginning at 11 a.m.