TL;DR
- Penn State fired James Franklin after an 0-3 start against Power Four teams.
- The Nittany Lions are in a significant leadership transition, seeking a new head coach.
- Pat Fitzgerald, Brent Key, Bob Chesney, and Manny Diaz are among rumored candidates.
- Several speculated candidates have recently secured contract extensions with their current teams.
Around 10 months ago, Penn State was on the verge of the national title game. Three months ago, the Nittany Lions entered 2025 as one of the most hyped teams in the country. Now, they're likely about to undergo a significant transition in leadership.
After an 0-3 start against Power Four teams, including losses to unranked UCLA and Northwestern, Penn State fired Franklin, who had led the team since 2014. It's been quite a while since the Nittany Lions needed a new coach — but now, one of the Big Ten's most famous brands will be entering a new era, with plenty of talent likely to depart as well.
The coaching search at Penn State has been marked by uncertainty, with some reported top candidates securing contract extensions at their present institutions and few clues emerging about the Nittany Lions' preferred choices.
Penn State's coaching search is underway, with speculation mounting about who might succeed Franklin. This article provides the most recent updates and whispers surrounding the team's pursuit of a new head coach.
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Penn State coaching speculation updates
Pat Fitzgerald is drawing attention from Penn State.
- Date: Nov. 19
- Source: Bruce Feldman | "Bear Bets" podcast
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported on the "Bear Bets" podcast that Penn State has expressed sincere interest in former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, who had previously been linked to the Nittany Lions during this coaching search, coached at Northwestern for 17 seasons, earning a reputation as one of the Big Ten's most esteemed coaches before a hazing scandal concluded his time there in the summer of 2023.
Penn State, Franklin adjust buyout terms
- Date: Nov. 17
- Source: On3
A potential financial factor in Penn State's new coaching search was reportedly settled, as James Franklin landed at Virginia Tech for an unknown contract amount. However, because language in Franklin's former Nittany Lions contract specified that his buyout amount would factor in how much he's paid by his new job, he will reportedly not be receiving the full $49 million buyout.
Per Pete Nakos, Penn State and Franklin negotiated a settlement on his buyout that gives him "roughly" $9 million, instead of the original $49 million.
MORE: Ranking the best fits to replace James Franklin at Penn State
Penn State is reportedly considering Brent Key and Bob Chesney, with Daboll and Fitzgerald also being names to monitor.
- Date: Nov. 14
- Source: The Athletic
Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo of The Athletic were among the first to report on Penn State's opening on November 14th, stating the Nittany Lions were still "exploring a lot of options." Candidates considered were Brent Key of Georgia Tech and Bob Chesney of James Madison. Key has guided Georgia Tech to a 9-1 conference record in 2025 and has expressed his commitment to remain with the program, whereas Chesney has James Madison leading the Sun Belt Conference.
Additionally, per The Athletic, Vanderbilt's Clark Lea is merely viewed as just a speculative fit for Penn State's job, with no real connections yet. The Nittany Lions have "vetted" on assistants like Oregon’s Will Stein and Ohio State’s Brian Hartline, though.
Three more names to watch in the search, per Feldman and Russo, are Pat Fitzgerald, Brian Daboll and Al Golden. Fitzgerald had three 10-win seasons at Northwestern prior to being fired, Daboll was recently let go by the New York Giants, and is a former OC at Alabama. He also has connections to Penn State, as his kids attended the school). Golden is now the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator.
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Manny Diaz might be considered for a reunion.
- Date: Nov. 10
- Source: 247Sports
Manny Diaz, who presently leads Duke's coaching staff, is reportedly a name to consider for Penn State's coaching vacancy. His candidacy is logical, largely due to his previous involvement with The Nittany Lions.
During the 2022–23 seasons, Diaz held the position of defensive coordinator at Penn State under James Franklin, a period where the Nittany Lions featured one of the nation's premier defenses. In 2023, the Nittany Lions secured the No. 2 spot in total defense nationwide, per CFB Stats, and in 2022, they were ranked No. 17. Although Penn State already possesses a prominent defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, Diaz would further assist them in solidifying a defensive identity.
Diaz previously coached Miami from 2019 to 2021, achieving a 21-15 record with The Hurricanes. He's experienced greater success with The Blue Devils, guiding them to a 5-3 beginning in 2025.
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Cignetti, Rhule, Brohm, Elko rumored for coach extensions
With Penn State being among the initial coaching openings in college football, there's been ample opportunity for coaches to be associated with the program. Nevertheless, a significant number of the coaches rumored or speculated about have already committed to new deals with their present teams.
Curt Cignetti was among the initial prominent figures linked with Penn State. As a native of Pennsylvania, already competing in the Big Ten, and presently recognized as one of the nation's most esteemed coaches, he appeared to be an obvious choice. However, shortly after Franklin's dismissal, Indiana secured Cignetti with a new eight-year agreement, reportedly valued at approximately $11.6 million per year the school announced..
Approximately a fortnight after, another reported Nittany Lions prospect withdrew from consideration. Matt Rhule had been asserting in press conferences his dedication to Nebraska, which he demonstrated by accepting a two-year contract extension set to last until the 2032 season, the school announced.
Louisville's Jeff Brohm was another rumored name for Penn State, as he's led the Cardinals to three strong seasons in his tenure. But according to On3's report on Nov. 12, Louisville is "working" on a contract extension to keep Brohm with the team, seemingly taking his name out of the race as well.
In November, another possible candidate became unavailable as Mike Elko secured a new six-year agreement, keeping him with the team until the 2031 season, Texas A&M announced. Although Elko wasn't typically seen as a top choice for Penn State like Cignetti or Rhule might have been, there was speculation about whether he would leave the Aggies for a more prominent position, especially given his success in 2025.