Jeff Brohm isn’t going anywhere.
Despite a strong push from Penn State, the Louisville head coach has decided to stay put, turning down overtures from the Nittany Lions as their coaching search continues to drag on. Sources say Penn State presented Brohm with the terms of a deal, but the timing couldn’t have been worse - it was the same day he was finalizing a new freshman class at Louisville. Walking away from that, especially in the middle of building something meaningful at his alma mater, just wasn’t in the cards.
This marks the latest swing and miss for Penn State, which has now gone more than 50 days without a head coach since parting ways with James Franklin. Earlier in the week, the program was also turned down by BYU’s Kalani Sitake.
The search remains wide open, though one name to watch is former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. He was let go last month and brings a deep résumé, including a stint as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Nick Saban - a role that tends to carry weight in college circles.
As for Brohm, his decision to stay isn’t just about loyalty - it’s strategic. He and Louisville athletic director Josh Heird have been in ongoing discussions about restructuring his contract and making broader program enhancements.
While money always matters, sources say Brohm is especially focused on NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) support. In today’s college football landscape, that’s not just a nice-to-have - it’s essential to compete at a high level.
And Brohm has the results to back up his leverage. In just three seasons back at Louisville, he’s posted a 27-12 record, including an 8-4 finish this year that ended with a statement 41-0 win over archrival Kentucky. That win total is the best three-year stretch the program has seen since Bobby Petrino's early run from 2004 to 2006.
At 54, Brohm is a Louisville native and alum who’s clearly invested in building something sustainable - and successful - in his hometown. Turning down a job like Penn State’s isn’t something most coaches do lightly, but it’s a sign that Brohm believes in what he’s building. And with the right backing, especially in the NIL space, he might just be setting Louisville up for a serious run in the years ahead.
Penn State, meanwhile, is still looking.