C.J. Leone enters his second season with the Yellow Jacket football program. After coaching the quarterbacks last year, he will shift to the defensive side of the ball and work with the linebackers in 2007.
Working alongside head coach Rick Shepas last season, Leone helped quarterback Tres Cobb reach career-best marks in completion percentage, touchdowns and passing efficiency. In just two seasons as a starter, Cobb ranks among the all-time passing leaders in school history.
Prior to joining the Yellow Jackets, Leone served as a student coach at Division I Penn State, working alongside assistant coach Brian Norwood, father of Nittany Lion receiver Jordan Norwood.
While at Happy Valley, Leone coached Chris Harrell and Calvin Lowry, both starters in the secondary on the 2005 Penn State team that finished with an 11-1 record, including a triple-overtime Orange Bowl victory over Florida State. After earning Big Ten first-team honors and finishing third on the team with 79 tackles, Lowry was chosen in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Harrell posted 88 stops in 2005 with Penn State before signing a free agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
Leone originally went to Penn State as a walk-on to play for legendary head coach Joe Paterno. However, an injury-plagued career prevented him from seeing action.
The Ohio native was a two-year starter at linebacker and fullback at Struthers High School. While with the Wildcats, he earned all-conference accolades and played in the MVCA All-Star game.
