Former Penn State wide receivers coach Josh Gattis is headed to Alabama.
Gattis tweeted a goodbye note on Wednesday and had changed his bio to reflect that he worked for the University of Alabama. Multiple outlets reported that he would join the Crimson Tide staff last week.
Thank You! pic.twitter.com/pPQYa7HBkt
— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) January 24, 2018
Gattis has been a member of Penn State’s staff for four seasons under James Franklin. He served as offensive recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Nittany Lions since 2014. Penn State receiver Chris Godwin was a third round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
He coached wide receivers at Vanderbilt under Franklin for two seasons before that as the Commodores went 9-4 both seasons. Among others, he coached wide receiver Jordan Matthews in his final two seasons in Nashville. Matthews led the conference in receptions in both of Gattis’ seasons.
His first full-time coaching position was as wide receivers coach at Western Michigan in 2011. Wide receiver Jordan White led the nation with 140 catches for 1,911 yards and 17 touchdowns that season.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina in 2010. Gattis played two seasons in the NFL for the Chicago Bears as a defensive back after his college career at Wake Forest.
Assistant coach Mike Locksley coached the wide receivers last season. He’ll serve as Alabama’s offensive coordinator going forward, likely indicating that he will coach quarterbacks and Gattis will coach receivers.
