One of the most intriguing dynamics in Penn State football’s current coaching search is the number of potential candidates who are currently leading or assisting at their alma maters.
As the legendary “Bear” Bryant once told Texas A&M when Alabama came calling, “Mama called.”
That’s the power—and pull—of coaching at one’s alma mater. But leaving it can be complicated.
Brady Hoke left Ball State for San Diego State, eventually parlaying that into the Michigan job.
Jonathan Smith, meanwhile, left Oregon State amid the Pac-12’s implosion and has struggled mightily at Michigan State.
Here’s a look at five names reportedly on Penn State football’s radar in the coaching search and the likelihood of luring them away from their “Mama.”
Kenny Dillingham
Current Job: Arizona State Head Coach
Highlights:
Now in his third season at Arizona State, Dillingham has engineered a dramatic turnaround for a program that had languished through the Todd Graham and Herm Edwards eras. Since the start of the 2024 season, he’s gone 16-5, capturing a Big XII Championship and earning a College Football Playoff berth—transforming ASU into one of the nation’s surprise stories.
Flip Forecast: LOW
Arizona State’s resurgence has solidified Dillingham’s foundation in Tempe. The Sun Devils are now retaining elite in-state talent that once fled to the SEC, USC and Oregon, reversing years of attrition. Dillingham appears fully invested in pursuing the school’s first national championship, and Penn State would face long odds convincing him to leave a program he rebuilt from the ground up.
Jeff Brohm
Current Job: Louisville Head Coach
Highlights:
Brohm returned to his alma mater in 2023 after six successful seasons at Purdue, where he led the Boilermakers to four bowl appearances and a 2022 Big Ten Championship Game berth. In his second year back home, he guided Louisville to the ACC title game and has the Cardinals off to a 5-1 start this season.
Flip Forecast: LOW
The Brohm family and Louisville are practically synonymous. Jeff’s father, Oscar, played quarterback for the Cardinals in the late 1960s; his brothers Greg (now his chief of staff) and Brian also starred at Louisville, each leading the program to major bowl wins. Even his sister, Kim, was a three-sport athlete at the school. Given those deep family roots and Brohm’s current success, it’s almost impossible to imagine him leaving home again.
Clark Lea
Current Job: Vanderbilt Head Coach
Highlights:
In his fifth season at Vandy, Lea has finally begun to gain traction. The Commodores are poised for what could be the first double-digit win season in school history, an impressive feat given the SEC gauntlet.
Flip Forecast: MEDIUM
Could Penn State strike gold with another rising Vanderbilt star? Possibly. Lea’s name is beginning to circulate for major openings, and this could be his first true test of loyalty to his alma mater.
If college football’s financial and recruiting landscape continues to level, Lea has little reason to leave Nashville. But if he believes Vanderbilt’s ceiling remains limited, the resources and expectations at Penn State might prove too tempting to ignore.
Brian Hartline
Current Job: Ohio State Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach
Highlights:
Hartline has established himself as arguably the nation’s premier receivers coach, producing an assembly line of NFL talent: Parris Campbell, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka,and now Jeremiah Smith. Since being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023, Ohio State’s passing game has averaged 9.5 yards per attempt and nearly 13 yards per completion.
Flip Forecast: MEDIUM
There’s little doubt Hartline aspires to be a head coach, but would he leave Columbus for a rival he’s spent years beating? That’s the question.
From Penn State’s perspective, hiring a coach without head-coaching experience might not energize the fan base or reassure recruits already wavering. Still, if Hartline views Penn State as a chance to launch his career at a blue-blood program—rather than waiting years for the perfect opening—this could be his “Ryan Day moment.”
Brent Key
Current Job: Georgia Tech Head Coach
Highlights:
With Georgia Tech’s win over Duke last week, the Yellow Jackets improved to 7-0 for the first time since Bobby Dodd’s final season in 1966. A former Tech lineman, Key returned to his alma mater after three seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama, where he coached the offensive line and appeared in three national championship games, winning in 2017. Since taking over, he’s guided Georgia Tech to back-to-back bowl appearances and nearly upset Georgia last season.
Flip Forecast: MEDIUM
Like Lea, Key is entering his first true coaching courtship cycle. There’s no precedent yet for how he’d respond to a major offer. Georgia Tech is ascending, but its institutional commitment to football lags behind programs like Penn State. If the Yellow Jackets hesitate to match his ambitions—or his salary—Key could be intrigued by the chance to elevate his career at one of the Big Ten’s premier destinations.
Final Take
Penn State football’s coaching search may upend with someone from outside this list, but these five names highlight an emerging trend: more top candidates than ever are tied to their alma maters. That bond makes prying them loose difficult—and expensive.
Still, as Bear Bryant proved decades ago, sometimes when a bigger opportunity calls, even “Mama” has to let go.
