Inside Penn State’s Prolonged Coaching Search: What’s Taking So Long in Happy Valley?
While the coaching carousel has been spinning at full speed across the SEC and beyond - Lane Kiffin to LSU kicked off a domino effect that’s already reshaped more than a quarter of the conference - things in State College have remained eerily quiet. Penn State, once a model of stability, is now 50 days removed from firing James Franklin and still hasn’t named a successor. And with other programs moving quickly - Michigan State, for example, fired and hired a coach in a 24-hour span - the silence from Happy Valley is starting to get loud.
Let’s break down what we know, what we’re hearing, and why this prolonged search could become a real issue for the Nittany Lions.
The Clock Is Ticking - And So Is the Recruiting Calendar
Since Franklin’s midseason dismissal, he’s already landed on his feet at Virginia Tech - and taken at least four Penn State recruits with him. That’s a tough blow in any year, but especially now, with the early signing period just days away.
Interim coach Terry Smith has done his best to steady the ship. A longtime assistant under Franklin and a former player under Joe Paterno, Smith led the team to three straight wins and bowl eligibility.
He’s also made his loyalty to the program clear - even wearing a “409” button to honor Paterno’s win total. But whether that’s enough to earn him the permanent job remains to be seen.
Smith’s recruiting chops are well-known, and Penn State is hoping he can help hold the class together. As of now, though, the Nittany Lions are down to just six verbal commitments - a stark drop-off for a program that typically competes for top-15 classes.
Who’s in the Mix?
Penn State’s search is being led by athletic director Pat Kraft, and if there’s one thing we can say for certain, it’s that this has been a tightly held process. Unlike some other high-profile searches, there haven’t been many reliable leaks. But a few names have surfaced as having at least some level of contact:
- Pat Fitzgerald, the former Northwestern coach, has already landed at Michigan State.
- Bob Chesney, who led James Madison this season, is now heading to UCLA.
- Brian Daboll, currently with the New York Giants, has been mentioned - and if Penn State wanted him, there’s nothing stopping them from making that move now.
- Al Golden, the Bengals’ defensive coordinator and a Penn State alum, was in the mix back in 2014 when Franklin was hired.
His name has resurfaced again.
And then there’s Kalani Sitake, the head coach at BYU, who has emerged as the most serious candidate in recent days. Sitake was even asked about the Penn State rumors during a media session ahead of the Big 12 title game.
His response? Classic coach-speak: “I’m all about the Big 12 championship and keeping our team focused on that.
So I’m going to avoid all the distractions.”
Still, multiple sources have indicated that Sitake is indeed on a short list of serious contenders.
Other names that have been floated include:
- Jeff Brohm (Louisville)
- Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri)
- Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)
But both Drinkwitz and Lea signed extensions last week, which likely takes them off the board.
There was also some early speculation about Kalen DeBoer potentially leaving Alabama for Penn State if the Crimson Tide stumbled late. But Alabama won the Iron Bowl and is headed to the SEC title game with a real shot at the College Football Playoff. A source close to DeBoer says he has no interest in leaving Tuscaloosa, regardless of how the postseason shakes out.
As for Josh Heupel? The Tennessee coach’s name has popped up in some corners of the internet, but that appears to be more wishful thinking than anything grounded in reality.
So... Why the Delay?
That’s the million-dollar question. Every other major job that’s come open this cycle has moved quickly - and predictably. Even LSU’s splashy hire of Lane Kiffin happened with surprising efficiency, and the aftershocks were felt immediately across the SEC.
Penn State, by contrast, is taking its time. Whether that’s a sign of a deliberate, well-structured process or a lack of clear direction is up for debate. But what’s clear is that the longer this drags on, the more difficult things get - especially in today’s college football landscape.
The early signing period is no longer just a checkpoint - it’s the main event. Programs that miss the window often spend the next year playing catch-up, not just in recruiting but in roster retention, too. With the transfer portal wide open and NIL deals shaping player movement more than ever, timing is everything.
And right now, Penn State is behind the clock.
Could a Surprise Be Coming?
That’s the buzz around the industry. If there’s one program that might zig when everyone else zags, it’s Penn State. The vibe for weeks has been that Kraft and company might have something up their sleeve - a name that hasn’t leaked, a plan that bucks the trend.
Maybe that’s Sitake. Maybe it’s someone we haven’t even considered yet. But for now, all signs point to Penn State being content to wait for the right fit, even if it means missing out on the early signing period.
Final Thoughts
Penn State is at a crossroads. The program has the resources, the tradition, and the fan base to stay in the national conversation. But in today’s college football, momentum matters - and right now, the Nittany Lions are in danger of losing theirs.
Whether it’s Kalani Sitake or someone else, the next hire will shape the trajectory of Penn State football for years to come. The longer this search stretches, the higher the stakes become.
It’s not panic time in Happy Valley - not yet. But with the holidays approaching and the recruiting calendar heating up, it’s fair to say Penn State fans are starting to feel the chill.