Penn hires new football coach

 

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – After weeks of searching for the replacement of Cory Yeoman, the Kingsmen hired long-time assistant Pete Riordan.

Yeoman led the Kingsmen as the head coach since 2003. After the 2023 season, Yeoman decided to retire.

That led the Penn administration to search for the next successful coach and Riordan was a candidate from beginning to end. On Wednesday March 20, it was announced that Riordan will be the seventh coach in program history. Making him the third in the last 50 years.

"It's an opportunity for which I'm very grateful and humbled. Very special thanks to Coach Cory, Coach Geesman, along with the numerous Penn assistant football coaches that helped me get to this point. I've been extremely fortunate to learn from some of the best coaches in the state, many of whom are in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for them," Riordan said.

The Penn administration wanted to bring in someone that could check the boxes for players both on and off the field.

"I want a coach who, again like I said, can connect to us on the field but also can be a person that we can just go to anytime of the day or text anytime and just, you will know what to expect and that's what it is with Coach Pete," said Penn High School football player and son of Notre Dame Football Head Coach, Vinny Freeman.

"What excites me most is the opportunity to continue working with the players. We have a great a great set of players. The Penn community is awesome. Tremendous support from the athletic department from the building ministration as well," Riordan added.