With Bill O'Brien officially on his way to Houston, the Penn State coaching search can now begin in earnest. Since we last checked in, there have been quite a few developments, and things are shaping up for an interesting (but brief) search. Here's what's happened since our last hot board:
- According to PSU Athletic Director Dave Joyner, the search will take days, not weeks.
- We've heard rumors coming out of Tennessee that Titans HC Mike Munchak will likely be retained for 2014, which would (obviously) take him out of the running.
- We've seen a groundswell of support for interim HC Larry Johnson Sr. from a number of current and former PSU players. Johnson is Penn State's best recruiter (and it isn't really close), and if PSU looks elsewhere, it'll have to tread lightly to avoid offending Johnson (and his many supporters) in the coming days. It doesn't sound (at the moment) like Johnson is a top candidate, but that could change quickly thanks to the players and alumni rallying behind him.
As of Thursday 1/2, these are the top 5 candidates for the PSU job:
5. John Hufnagel, Calgary Stampeders Head Coach
Hufnagel is a CFL legend with strong Penn State roots. He's also a quarterback guru, and the Nittany Lions need someone who can help continue Christan Hackenberg's development. We've only heard Hufnagel's name mentioned as part of a list of potential candidates, which indicates he isn't a leading contender, but if the search committee wants a proven winner with Penn State roots (who conveniently spent the end of the Paterno era in Canada), Hufnagel is an intriguing possibility.
4. Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans Head Coach
Munchak has some very intriguing positives and some near-dealbreaking negatives. The good: a PSU graduate with over 30 years of NFL experience, Munchak is an easy culture fit who completely understands what Penn State is all about. The less good: Munchak might end up keeping his job with the Titans (who went 7-9 this year), taking him off the market, and he's also a offensive line specialist who might not be ideal for Christian Hackenberg. He's also never worked outside the Titans organization, so there's also no way of knowing how he'd do as a recruiter.
3. Al Golden, Miami Hurricanes Head Coach
Golden is a very real possibility, and we've heard rumors that like James Franklin, he reached out to PSU when word first leaked out that O'Brien might be leaving. Once considered the heir to Joe Paterno, Golden is a PSU product with valuable experience and success at the college level. While Munchak and Hufnagel are possibilities, Golden, Greg Schiano and James Franklin are currently the real top choices in State College.
2. Greg Schiano, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach
Schiano is definitely in play for the PSU job, but some fans are skeptical given his struggles in Tampa. While Schiano's playcalling has received some (probably deserved) criticism, it's impossible to knock his skill as a recruiter, which was a massive asset with Rutgers but never came into play in the NFL. Schiano just seems better suited to the college environment, and whether the former PSU graduate assistant will return to Happy Valley remains to be seen.
1. James Franklin, Vanderbilt Head Coach
Franklin is definitely in pole position for the job, but Penn State will have to move quickly if they want him. Also in the mix for the Texas vacancy, Franklin reached out to Penn State when word of O'Brien's departure first surfaced. His Pennsylvania roots make him a cultural fit even though he never went to or worked with the university, and Franklin has the recruiting clout to make serious moves in the Big 10.
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