The coaching search to identify James Franklin’s replacement at Penn State is expected to be exhaustive and comprehensive
Everyone has opinions and feelings about the process, but given the confidentiality of coaching searches, much of it remains speculation.
Below is my updated head coaching hot board, broken into three tiers:
Crazy Flip
An ideal but highly unlikely scenario—less than a 5% chance of happening. College football has produced some wild flips in recent years (Lincoln Riley to USC, Brian Kelly to LSU), so anything is possible.
Candidate: Brent Key, Georgia Tech Head Coach
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer was my previous “Crazy Flip,” but with the Crimson Tide back on track and sitting in the Top 5 after seven straight wins, the likelihood of him leaving Tuscaloosa seems remote.
Despite Georgia Tech’s upset loss to NC State, Key’s stock remains high. With several potential openings in the SEC (LSU, Auburn, Florida) and possibly Florida State in the ACC, it will be interesting to see how Penn State positions itself against both that competition—and Key’s alma mater.
Best of the Rest
Coaches who are just outside my Top 5 radar but deserve serious consideration.
Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills OC)
Brady topped my initial hot board, but I suspect NFL teams will make aggressive runs at him this offseason. If Mike McDaniel’s tenure in Miami ends and Brady believes in Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle, that job could be a perfect fit.
Eric Morris (North Texas HC)
Morris makes his first appearance on my board and deserves a look. A Mike Leach disciple, Morris has coached quarterbacks such as Connor Halliday, Patrick Mahomes and Cam Ward. His North Texas offense ranks second nationally in scoring (44.4 PPG), led by quarterback Drew Mestemaker—who leads the conference in passing yards, touchdowns, yards per attempt, and efficiency rating.
Hot Board: Top 5 Candidates
#5 Brian Hartline (Ohio State Offensive Coordinator)
Brian Hartline – Ohio State Athletics
I was at the center of the “Hartline hysteria” in Columbus Saturday. Was Penn State AD Pat Kraft getting a postgame reference from Ryan Day? Who knows—but there’s legitimate smoke here. Hartline could climb higher on my list with more tangible evidence of interest.
#4 Pat Fitzgerald (Free Agent)
Pat Fitzgerald – Darron Cummings/AP
Fitzgerald might fit into a new category altogether: the “safe pick.” For many, that label used to belong to Matt Rhule—who has since signed an extension at Nebraska.
Fitzgerald is reportedly eager to return to coaching and boasts a strong résumé. The key question: How does he align with Kraft’s hiring criteria?
#3 Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders OC)
Injuries have derailed the Commanders’ offense this season, particularly with Jayden Daniels. How much of that falls on Kingsbury is unclear, but his résumé and innovative offensive mind warrant serious consideration. His youth and NFL experience could offer Penn State a long-term solution.
#2 Bob Chesney (James Madison HC)
Chesney has climbed as expected from my initial list. With James Madison thriving and Curt Cignetti’s success at Indiana validating that path, could Penn State follow the same blueprint? Chesney has succeeded at every level he’s coached and might be the most prepared candidate to stabilize the program if roster attrition occurs.
#1 Ryan Silverfield (Memphis HC)
Silverfield’s résumé stands out. He’s coached on both sides of the ball at the collegiate and NFL levels and has continued Memphis’s success after Mike Norvell’s departure. The Tigers are on track for their third straight 10-win season and a potential College Football Playoff berth. His strong Florida recruiting ties could be a major asset for Penn State.
