The search for James Franklin’s replacement at Penn State will be both exhaustive and comprehensive.
Everyone has their own opinions and emotions about the process, especially since the search remains confidential.
Here’s my current coaching Hot Board, divided into three tiers:
Crazy Flip – My ideal but highly unlikely scenario (less than a 5% chance). College football has seen shocking moves before — think Lincoln Riley to USC or Brian Kelly to LSU — so it’s not impossible.
Best of the Rest – Coaches just outside my top five, but close enough to merit serious consideration.
Hot Board – My top five current candidates to be Penn State’s next head coach.
Crazy Flip: Kalen DeBoer – Alabama
DeBoer has won big everywhere he’s gone. This season, he appears poised to guide Alabama back to the College Football Playoff. At 50, he’s entering his coaching prime and has already executed major program overhauls at Washington and Alabama.
It’s unlikely he’d leave, especially now that he’s steadied the Tide and silenced early skepticism, but DeBoer would be a home-run hire.
Best of the Rest:
Kliff Kingsbury (Offensive Coordinator – Washington Commanders)
Ryan Silverfield (Head Coach – Memphis)
One of Penn State’s biggest shortcomings under James Franklin was quarterback development — a strength that has defined Ohio State since Urban Meyer’s arrival in 2012. In that span, an Ohio State QB has won the Big Ten’s Quarterback of the Year Award 10 times.
Kingsbury’s résumé reads like a who’s who of elite quarterbacks: Case Keenum, Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. That’s a staggering list of offensive success stories. He’s a name to keep firmly on the next Hot Board.
Silverfield’s stock dipped slightly after Memphis’ loss to UAB, but his résumé remains strong — multiple double-digit win seasons and four straight postseason victories. At 45, he’s entering his coaching prime and could bring a steady, developmental edge to Penn State.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Hot Board: Top Five Candidates
#5 – Brian Hartline (Offensive Coordinator – Ohio State)
Brian Hartline – Ohio State Athletics
It’s only a matter of time before Hartline lands his first head coaching job. He’s unlikely to take a Group of Five or lower-tier Power Four position. Penn State fits the mold of the kind of opportunity that could entice him — even if it means facing the program he helped build at Ohio State.
#4 – Will Stein (Offensive Coordinator – Oregon)
Stein earns a bump over Hartline for the impressive work he’s done with quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore. His track record shows that by Year 2 or 3, he’s ready for the next step. Stein’s offensive mind makes him an intriguing candidate for Penn State’s future.
#3 – Bob Chesney (Head Coach – James Madison)
Chesney continues to rise on my board. He deserves credit for stabilizing James Madison after Curt Cignetti departed for Indiana, gutting much of the roster and staff on his way out. Chesney led the Dukes to nine wins last season and currently has them 6–1, in prime position for their first Sun Belt title. A Kulpmont, Pennsylvania native, Chesney’s regional ties and track record of rebuilding success make him an ideal cultural and football fit.
#2 – Pat Fitzgerald (Free Agent)
Pat Fitzgerald – Darron Cummings/AP
Fitzgerald may slide in future updates, but his competitive itch to return to coaching — combined with his proven ability to recruit and maximize limited resources — makes him fascinating to consider. The question: what could Fitzgerald achieve with the infrastructure and resources that Penn State offers, far beyond what he had at Northwestern?
#1 – Joe Brady (Offensive Coordinator – Buffalo Bills)
Brady is arguably the hottest coaching commodity in football. His work with Josh Allen has elevated the Bills’ offense to one of the NFL’s most disciplined and explosive units — 26 straight games without losing the turnover battle. Buffalo currently ranks in the top five in scoring offense, first downs, and total offense, powered by the league’s best rushing attack.
Couple that with his legendary 2019 LSU season — one of the greatest offenses in college football history — and it’s easy to see why Brady sits atop my list.
