Most of Penn State’s top options to replace James Franklin are already off the board. Curt Cignetti, Matt Rhule, and Mike Elko have all signed extensions to stay put, so unless Alabama loses the Iron Bowl and Crimson Tide fans run Kalen DeBoer out of Tuscaloosa, it may be tough to convince an experienced sitting head coach to come to Happy Valley.
As Penn State’s search drags on, athletic director Pat Kraft may start to seriously consider handing the keys to his football program to a first-time head coach, and maybe he should. From Kirby Smart to Dan Lanning to Kenny Dillingham, many of the country’s best coaches went straight from being a coordinator.