College Football Coaching Carousel Spins Fast - But Penn State Still Searching for Its Answer
It was a wild Sunday in the college football world, the kind of day that reminds us just how quickly the coaching carousel can spin - and how fast seats can fill. Lane Kiffin made headlines by taking the LSU job, which set off a rapid-fire chain reaction across the SEC and beyond. Florida moved to hire Jon Sumrall, Arkansas tapped Ryan Silverfield, Auburn brought in Alex Golesh, Ole Miss elevated Pete Golding, and even Michigan State landed on Pat Fitzgerald.
In short, the biggest jobs didn’t just get filled - they got filled fast.
But in the middle of all this movement, one major program still hasn’t made its move: Penn State.
The First Big Job to Open Is Still Open
What makes the Penn State situation especially surprising is that it was actually the first major opening of this coaching cycle. Yet as the dust settles around the rest of the country, the Nittany Lions are still without a head coach - and the list of top-tier candidates is shrinking by the day.
Early buzz surrounded names like Curt Cignetti and Matt Rhule, but both coaches have since signed extensions with their current programs, effectively taking themselves out of the running. Another name that had gained momentum in recent days was James Madison’s Bob Chesney.
But that door closed quickly, too - Chesney is now finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at UCLA. According to sources, he’s expected to coach JMU in the upcoming Sun Belt Championship and would remain on the sidelines for the playoffs if the Dukes advance.
So where does that leave Penn State?
A Shift Toward the Coordinator Pool
With most of the top active head coaches now off the board, all signs point to Penn State turning its attention to the coordinator ranks - a move that, while not as flashy, has plenty of precedent at the highest levels of the sport.
Just look at some of the most successful programs in the country right now. Ohio State’s Ryan Day was an offensive coordinator before taking over in Columbus.
Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman all rose through the defensive coordinator pipeline. In other words, betting on a coordinator isn’t a gamble - it’s a proven strategy.
And in this cycle, the coordinator pool is still loaded with potential.
Offensive Firepower or Defensive Grit?
If Penn State wants to address its most pressing issue - an inconsistent passing game that’s held the offense back - there are several offensive minds worth a serious look. Brian Hartline (Ohio State), Buster Faulkner (Georgia Tech), Will Stein (Oregon), and Tosh Lupoi (Oregon) all bring creative, aggressive approaches to offense and could inject life into a program that’s struggled to find rhythm through the air.
On the other side of the ball, if the Nittany Lions go defense-first, they’ll have no shortage of candidates either. Glenn Schumann (Georgia) and Blake Baker (Missouri) are two names that continue to rise in coaching circles. Both have led top-tier defenses and could bring the kind of edge and identity that Penn State fans crave.
Time Is Ticking in Happy Valley
There’s no doubt Penn State still has options - and good ones at that. But with the early signing period approaching and the transfer portal already buzzing, the clock is ticking. The longer the search drags on, the more difficult it becomes to retain current players, recruit new ones, and build momentum heading into the offseason.
The Nittany Lions may have been the first big program to enter the coaching market, but they’re now the last major one still shopping. Whether they go with a rising coordinator or make a surprise move, it’s clear the time to act is now.
Because in college football, standing still is never a winning strategy.