[2] Strollo began coaching directly out of college as an assistant coach at Middletown High School South on the Jersey Shore, prior to moving to the collegiate level to Springfield, at which he got his master's degree working as a graduate assistant.
He had three more coaching stops – Lafayette College, Cornell, and Maine – before first working with Bill O'Brien when they were assistants together at Duke from 2005 to 2007.
[3] He then spent three seasons at Elon and one season at Ball State prior to O'Brien hiring him to coach on his new staff at Penn State, a decision that drew some criticism within the media for his lack of experience in big-time college football.
[2] His first season at Penn State, however, saw freshman tight end Kyle Carter excel, and Strollo consequently received some accolade and acceptance for his role as position coach, including speculation that Penn State could become "Tight End U", a reference to Penn State's Linebacker U, for their consistent success and strength at linebacker.
Consequently, Strollo returned to Ball State as offensive line coach.