Juliano Pagliero

Biography

Juliano Pagliero begins his sixth season behind the Nittany Lion bench in 2026-27 after being added to Guy Gadowsky’s staff in June 2021. Pagliero was elevated to Associate Head Coach in July 2023. He arrived in Hockey Valley after spending 2018-2021 on Norm Bazin’s staff at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. AT PENN STATE This past season, Pagliero was one of the main architects behind the highest rated recruiting class in Penn State history headlined by 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna and 2025 first round selection Jackson Smith. McKenna, the highest rated recruit in Penn State and college hockey history, finished the year fifth in the nation with 51 points, a Penn State freshman record and the second-most in a single-season all-time. McKenna became the first-ever Nittany Lion to win the Big Ten Scoring Title with 38 points on 11 goals and 27 assists in 24 league games. McKenna was also named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Penn State’s first-ever, as well as landing on the All-Big Ten Second and All-Freshman teams. McKenna also became the second-straight Nittany Lion to be named a Hobey Baker Top-10 Finalist as well as the programs fourth All-American landing on the Second Team West. Penn State advanced to its fifth NCAA Tournament, third in the past four years and second-straight, following the program’s seventh 20+-win season. The Nittany Lions finished the year 21-14-2 while tying program records with 12 wins and 41 points to finish third in the Big T