Who should be the next head coach at Penn State?
Penn State Launches High-Stakes Coaching Search After Firing Franklin
Penn State football is officially in transition after the university fired James Franklin following a disappointing 3-3 start to the 2025 season. Longtime assistant Terry Smith is serving as interim head coach while a national search gets underway. Early candidates include Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Penn State alum and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, and former PSU defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, now at Duke. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is also viewed as a possible internal promotion. Meanwhile, big-name speculation continues around Urban Meyer and others. With fan interest high and expectations even higher, the coaching search could redefine the future of the program.
Options
- Matt Rhule (Nebraska, PSU alum)
- Curt Cignetti (Indiana HC)
- Andy Kotelnicki (PSU OC)
- Manny Diaz (Duke, former PSU DC)
- Urban Meyer
- Someone else