Recruiting Areas: North Dakota, Western New York (including Buffalo), Ohio (Northern), South Dakota, Wisconsin.
Second-year Cornell assistant coach Ross Pennypacker joined the Big Red staff after serving two seasons as defensive assistant at Villanova. He will again serve as the team’s defensive backs coach and will direct Cornell’s video operations for the 2009 campaign.
In his first season, Pennypacker's secondary, which featured no seniors, ranked fourth in the Ivy League in fewest passing yards allowed (203.5 ypg.) and surrendered the third-fewest passing touchdowns (12).
Pennypacker’s duties with the Wildcats included serving as the team’s video coordinator and assisting with the defensive backs. Pennypacker also recruited the state of Ohio for the Wildcats. He helped Villanova to a 6-5 mark in 2006 and a 7-4 record in 2007 in the powerful Colonial Athletic Association.
Before arriving at Villanova, Pennypacker was an intern assistant coach at Allegheny College where he coached the outside linebackers. He also was responsible for recruiting central and eastern Pennsylvania during his one-year stint at Allegheny.
Pennypacker began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Millersville University. While at Millersville, he assisted with coaching the outside linebackers and safeties.
During his playing days, Pennypacker played linebacker at Millersville where he graduated in 2005 with a degree in Social Sciences. He is single and resides in Ithaca.
*Updated July 1, 2009
