After six years as the head football coach at Rutgers, former Penn State assistant coach Dick Anderson will return to his former position as the offensive line coach, Coach Joe Paterno announced Friday.

Anderson was fired from Rutgers on Dec. 12 after posting a 2-7-2 record last season. His career record at Rutgers is 27-34-4.

Anderson served as Penn State's offensive line coach for 11 seasons, from 1973-1983. He resigned to take the Rutgers job for the 1984 season.

"Over the years, we have learned to value his opinions, his judgment and his loyalty," Paterno said in a media release. "Dick also has a personality that blends nicely with the other members of the staff, many of whom he worked with previously. We're delighted he's back."

"I've heard a lot of good things about Coach Anderson," offensive tackle Pat Duffy said. "They have a great deal of respect for him so it should be an experience."

Anderson could not be reached for comment.

The status of current offensive line coach Craig Cirbus is unknown. Cirbus joined the staff in 1984 as a graduate assistant and then became a volunteer coach. He became an assistant coach in 1987.

"Coach Paterno is in the process of reorganizing the football staff and there will be a further announcement," said L. Budd Thalman, associate athletic director for communications. "The only announcement we're making at this time regards Dick Anderson."

Cirbus could not be reached for comment.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen but hopefully he sticks around," Duffy said. "He was a good coach and did a good job last year in bringing us along and everyone had a great amount of respect for him."

"I think that Craig did a really good job but it's just a matter of moving on," offensive lineman Dave Brzenchek said. "We have players that get injured and we just have to move on. Now we just have a coaching change and we're going to have to move on."

Anderson's appointment will reunite him with his son, Jeff, a reserve linebacker. Anderson did not recruit his son because they decided it was best if they were not associated with the same program; consequently, Jeff chose to attend Penn State. But now he is glad his father has returned.

"At the time we decided to avoid the situation of me playing for him so now it's something where our careers just brought us together," Jeff Anderson said. "It'll take a little time adjusting on my part just getting used to having him around all the time, but I'm excited about it. I don't think it will cause any problems."

Anderson said his father's transition from head coach to assistant coach may be difficult at first.

"I think it's going to be tough for him to come right in and implement his own ideas and systems, especially his first year," Brzenchek agreed. "He's going to basically have to go along with what we've been doing the past couple years and integrate his own thoughts and ideas."

However, Anderson noted that his father will be working with coaches he is comfortable with and has worked with before.

"His previous experience here, coupled with six years as a head coach at the major college level, will be exceptionally valuable," Paterno said. "Since he knows our personnel and our system, Dick will be able to hit the ground running."