New year, new coaching roster.
Penn football will enter the 2026 season with a mix of new and familiar faces on the sideline.
After longtime head coach Ray Priore departed the program last November, coaching trepidation was felt in his wake. Although former University of New Hampshire head coach Rick Santos filled Priore’s spot within weeks, it was unclear whether or not he would retain Priore’s coaching core.
Over the past week, it was announced via Instagram that four Priore hires would stay with the program, joining three fresh faces hired by Santos.
Ryan Wilson:
Offensive line coach and co-fffensive coordinator Ryan Wilson joins the program after two seasons on University of New Hampshire's coaching staff. Wilson began his career with the Wildcats as assistant offensive line coach during the 2024 season before being promoted to co-offensive coordinator for the 2025 season.
UNH finished fourth in the Coastal Athletic Association last season with an 8-5 record, earning an at-large bid to FCS playoffs. The Wildcats went down in the first round of playoffs to no. 14 South Dakota State. UNH finished the season allowing the fifth-fewest sacks in the CAA (23).
Before coming to UNH, Wilson served as offensive line coach at St. Francis University, then a Division I FCS program. While at St. Francis, he led a nationally-competitive offensive line unit that allowed 13 sacks over the 2022 season. This offensive line supported program record-setting performances in total touchdowns, passing touchdowns, and total points.
Wilson played Division II college ball at PennWest Edinboro as a three-year starting center, earning program Lineman of the Year awards in 2012 and 2013 while serving as team captain.
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Ed Borden:
Fellow Wildcat transfer Ed Borden will reprise his role as co-offensive coordinator alongside Wilson in the 2026 season. Borden served on the UNH coaching squad from 2019-2025 in multiple capacities, including co-offensive coordinator, tight ends coach, and recruitment coordinator. Santos promoted Borden to offensive play caller before the 2025 season commenced.
After graduating from Bentley University in 2009, Borden worked in the UFL for the now-defunct Las Vegas Locomotives. Former Giants Head Coach Jim Fassel served as head coach and president during Borden’s tenure, overseeing the back-to-back William Hambrecht Trophy winners.
Justin Stovall:
Associate head coach and special teams coordinator Justin Stovall stands out as the only member of the coaching staff without any previous affiliation with Santos or Priore. Stovall comes to Philadelphia from the Big Apple, where he served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator for Columbia. The Melbourne, Fla. native was with the Lions for 11 seasons.
During Stovall’s tenure with the Lions, Columbia achieved the 2024 Ivy League title with the no. 2 defense in the nation, which allowed only 16.1 points per game. Columbia fell to last place in the conference during the 2025 season with a 2-8 record. Their defense ranked last in the conference as well, allowing 27.9 points per game.
Stovall played Division I college ball at Lafayette College in a dual linebacker and special teams role, where he saw action in 46 out of 47 games from 2003-2006. He began his coaching career at Franklin and Marshall College as a linebacker coach, then transitioned to various stints across the country.
Although Santos decided to keep four Priore hires, he altered some of their roles in the program.
Elias Miller and Joe Calise
Elias Miller and Joe Calise were retained in their roles as director of football operations and video coordinator respectively. Miller was appointed by Priore in April 2025, and previously served as the Penn men’s lacrosse program’s assistant director of operations for three seasons. Calise joined the program in 2024 after two stints at Temple University.
Tyree Foreman:
Tyree Foreman was rehired by Santos, but moved to running backs coach. He previously served as tight ends coach for the Quakers during the 2025 season. Foreman came to the Quakers from Temple University, where he served as running backs coach during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He also served as running backs coach at Towson from 2019-2022.
Foreman played college ball at UVA, where he was a three-year letter winner in the backfield. After graduation, he was awarded a free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers and was later signed to the Chicago Bears’ practice squad. In 2003, Foreman was allocated to the NFL Europe, where he served as starting fullback for the Barcelona Dragons.
David Josephson:
Former wide receivers coach and pass-game coordinator David Josephson will be utilized by Santos as safeties coach and recruiting coordinator. Josephson joined the Quakers in the 2024 season, where he served as tight ends coach. As wide receivers coach, Josephson oversaw the development of first team All-American senior Jared Richardson, who recently committed to Duke University for his final year of collegiate eligibility.
Josephson transitioned to coaching after his college ball career at Division III powerhouse Johns Hopkins was cut short by injury in 2013. Johns Hopkins advanced to the playoffs every season during Josephson’s initial tenure as assistant coach. After a season in the Bay Area as Stanford’s graduate assistant coach, Josephson returned to Johns Hopkins, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach until 2022.
It’s unclear whether or not previous Priore appointments, such as offensive coordinator Greg Chimera and Recruiting Coordinator Jon Dupont, will return to the program. Although no one knows what will happen on the field come fall, the Santos era has already begun.
