Wow, just wow. It’s been a couple hours and I’m still in shocked disbelief Penn State actually did it. I didn’t think they had it in them to fire a coach midseason and pay a $49 million buyout. Penn State did what was necessary on Sunday firing James Franklin after a horrific three game stretch dropping the preseason No. 2 team in the nation to 3-3 and unranked. Franklin’s time in Happy Valley had Penn State consistently ranked but, never good enough to get over the hump. The next head coach at Penn State will inherit a historic program with plenty of talent in the fertile recruiting regions near Penn State in Pennsylvania, Ohio and the DMV. Some challenges he will face is Penn State struggling financially compared to others in their NIL package and the rigors of Big Ten play both in games on the field but also travelling across the country for them. That begs the question though, who should Penn State hire to lead them in this new era? Can Penn State find the coach who can lead them to that elusive third national title?
Top Target
Curt Cignetti- Indiana Hoosiers Head Coach
This could not be a more obvious hire for Penn State. Curt Cignetti is a winner, he has won everywhere he has been. From IUP in Division II to helping James Madison transition from FCS to FBS and having immediate success and of course turning a bottom five program all time at the Power Four level in Indiana into a bonafide College Football Playoff contender in his first year. Not to mention the Hoosiers looking even better in his second year and coming off a huge road win at Oregon. Cignetti is a Pennsylvania guy as well and has coached in the state. That gives him ties to the region for recruiting with James Madison getting some of the diamonds in the rough from that region as well, and he already has Big Ten ties with him coaching the Hoosiers. Indiana will always be a basketball school first and foremost, no matter how good Cignetti makes Hoosier football. Cignetti going to Penn State where football is king would be a match made in heaven for both Cignetti and the Penn State fanbase who is desperate for a coach like Cignetti. The Nittany Lions need to do everything in their power and beyond to make Cignetti the next coach in Happy Valley.
Must Calls
If Cignetti turns down Penn State for whatever reason, these should be the next names for Penn State Athletic Director Pat Kraft to call.
Manny Diaz- Duke Blue Devils Head Coach
While Manny Diaz may have had a sour tenure in Miami, he wasn’t awful by any means there, just not great. Diaz though has turned face helping Duke to a 9-4 mark last year and having the Blue Devils to a solid start this year 4-2. Diaz has Penn State connections, being a great defensive coordinator with Penn State in 2022 and 2023 helping him land the Duke job while coordinating some of the top defenses in college football both those years. Diaz might have some questions but has done well at Duke, a tough place to win with academics and focus on basketball. Penn State knows Diaz from his time there which helps out in recruiting and Diaz would be given the opportunity for his best chance of success as a head coach with the Nittany Lions.
Eliah Drinkwitz- Missouri Tigers Head Coach
What Eliah Drinkwitz has done at Missouri is remarkable. Drinkwitz or “Drink” has turned Mizzou into a force to be reckoned with during the NIL era leading Mizzou to a program rarity back to back 10+ win seasons and looking like the Tigers are on their way to a third this year. As good as Drink has made Mizzou there will always be a limit on what can be accomplished at Mizzou. Even with the Tigers adapting to this new era well, other SEC schools will always be ahead of them on the curve, not to mention hierarchy nationally and in conference. Penn State will give Drinkwitz a chance to coach at a premier program near the top of hierarchy both in conference and nationally, plus stay in one of the power two conferences. Penn State has other advantages as well like a more fertile recruiting area where Drink can show off his underrated recruiting chops. Drink will have to decide whether it’s worth staying at Mizzou where he’s built the Tigers up into something special or goes to chase a new challenge at a historic program where there is a higher ceiling than is possible at Mizzou.
Alex Golseh- South Florida Bulls Head Coach
Penn State has always been a defensive first school, even during the Franklin tenure despite his offensive background. The Nittany Lions can always count on a good defense no matter what, so why not go in the opposite direction and hire a young upcomer offensive guru head coach in Alex Golesh from USF. Golesh has done a good job turning USF from a putrid state back into a Group of Five contender for the CFP. Golesh has Big Ten connections having coached at Illinois and Ohio State. The issue that has plagued Penn State for the last 15 years is the inability to develop a great quarterback. Guys like Trace McSorley have been good but blue chip prospects like Drew Allar failed to live up to hype. Hiring Golesh would poise to finally solve the Penn State offensive issues with his incredible offensive work done with Josh Heupel at UCF and Tennessee. If Penn State wants to look in a young and offensive direction then Golesh is their man.
Dan Mullen- UNLV Rebels Head Coach
Mullen is the most polished head coach in this tier. Finding good success at both Mississippi State and Florida. Giving the Bulldogs highs never seen and giving Florida their best consistent post Urban Meyer years even if his recruiting left something to be desired and he fell flat his last group of games in the swamp. Mullen though is still a good coach as he has UNLV undefeated this year and in position to make the playoff as the g5 team. Mullen’s time at Florida gives him a good comparison to Penn State as both programs are historically good but always a tier below others in their conference like Alabama and Ohio State. Penn State has always been a school focused more on development than good recruiting overall and Mullen would fit that profile while bringing an offensive background to Penn State. Mullen is from Pennsylvania as well, giving him a chance to turn around the state’s program. If Penn State wants a safe quality bet as head coach then it’s Mullen, but I caution Mullen could end up being Franklin 2.0.
At Least Give A Call
Brent Key- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Head Coach
I can’t overstate how much of a fan I’ve been of Brent Key over the past couple of years at Georgia Tech. He’s done a fantastic job turning the Yellow Jackets from putrid when he took over as interim head coach to good and now a playoff team. Key has the demeanor and style that would be a great fit at Penn State. The reason he’s in this tier though is because he is coaching his alma mater and I don’t see him leaving. Penn State should give him a call at least to gauge if it’s possible as I think he would be a great fit with the Nittany Lions.
Wild Card
Jay Paterno- Former Penn State Offensive Coordinator/son of legendary program head coach Joe Paterno
This last candidate becoming Penn State head coach would be the most unlikely but still a possibility. Jay Paterno currently sits on the Penn State board of trustees, and has the connections possible to be head coach at his alma mater. Paterno also has the football background needed to lead Nittany Lions football as he was a quarterback for them and a longtime offensive coordinator for Penn State. Paterno hasn’t coached in football since the exodus at Penn State that occurred after his father program icon Joe Paterno resigned. When Jay Paterno was at Penn State his last year the 2011 season he was named Big Ten quarterback coach of the year. Throughout his time he was always a respected offensive coordinator and many saw him as the natural successor to his father. Obviously the scandal in 2011 changed things. There is still friction between Paterno and the school over his firing and the views on Joe Paterno’s legacy at Penn State. Paterno would also have implications in the fan and donor base. Money will be a concern for Penn State after the massive Franklin buyout but hiring Paterno would be cheaper than most other options and invigorate more of the fan/donor base than not given Joe Pa’s more popular than not still with Penn State today. There will be complications in Paterno no way around that but he had shown enough to be given a shot at head coach in the past it’s worth a shot now.
