A Strategic Hire for the Nittany Lions
Kashif Moore, a former top UConn receiver and NFL veteran, was announced this week as Penn State’s new receivers coach, stepping into the role after Noah Pauley’s move to the Green Bay Packers. The hiring comes at a pivotal moment for the Nittany Lions, whose receiving corps has gone three years without a standout season.
Moore’s journey to State College is rooted in a distinguished playing career that includes 126 professional receptions and 1,699 yards across four NFL teams, notably the Pittsburgh Steelers. After hanging up his cleats, he transitioned into coaching, first at Wesleyan University before stints at Albany, Cornell and, most recently, UConn, where he helped Skyler Bell earn consensus All‑American honors and a Biletnikoff Award finalist nod.
At UConn, Moore worked under Greg Gattuso, who later brought him to Albany, and he quickly made an impact by developing Bell into a top‑level pass catcher. His reputation as a demanding yet developmental coach earned him praise from Penn State’s offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who cited Moore’s “competitive, development‑focused approach” as a perfect fit for the program.
The new coach will inherit a room that features returning standouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylen Noel, who combined for more than 2,300 receiving yards last season. Both players have drawn Moore’s attention, and he hopes to pair their talent with a philosophy that emphasizes selfless, explosive play — an identity he says aligns with Penn State’s tradition of producing some of the nation’s toughest wide receivers.
Matt Campbell, the team’s offensive coordinator, described the receivers position as the most intriguing piece of the upcoming season, noting that the group’s blend of new and returning talent could finally unlock the explosiveness the program has been seeking. Moore’s reunion with former player Chase Sowell, now at East Carolina, further underscores his intent to build continuity and depth.