Penn State Coaching Carousel Keeps Spinning

The Penn State coaching search is not firing on all cylinders with five coaches being considered finalists as of January 3rd.  The spin on each candidate has changed by the day in a search that has just gotten confusing.  Penn State believes it has found its man in either Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak, Boise State head coach Chris Petersen, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, San Fransisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and even Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell.

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The first that can be crossed off the list in Bill O’Brien seeing how he has an extended run in the playoffs coming, and he has stated he would like to remain in the NFL, according to sources. Jim Caldwell and Mike Munchak are in the same boat, as each is currently employed by NFL teams, but have ties to Penn State. Munchak has stated he would like to retire a Titan, but admitted to being torn at the fact he could fix his Alma mater. Jim Caldwell is still “under evaluation” but could be a viable option should he be fired in the coming days. Greg Roman is the wild card in this search. Not much is known about him and he has seemed to come out of the woodwork rather quickly. He almost became the Pittsburgh and Vanderbilt head coaches last year, but followed Jim Harbaugh to the 49ers.  He has extended experience in a college system which is something the other candidates don’t have.

Chris Petersen is an odd candidate to judge.  He is the perfect fit in Penn State, but refuses to leave Boise State.  Rumor in State College is that Petersen has been there for a few days and some of the rumors go as far saying its a “done deal.”  Take these rumors with a grain of salt, but a Petersen sighting and/or signing would be a huge accomplishment and would destroy all the questions skeptics had about Penn State’s selection process.  Penn State still has some time to go in selecting their coach, but at this point any of these “finalists” would be a fit that the students and faculty can be proud. Hopefully the man they pick will lead PSU to success and honor.

Mike Edler
Born and raised in North Bergen, New Jersey 15 minutes outside New York City . Penn State Junior majoring in Broadcast Journalism. Die hard Tennessee Titans and New York Yankees fan, but there is nothing in the world like Penn State tailgating on a Saturday.