ESPN and multiple national outlets are reporting that Penn State second-year head coach Bill O’Brien will take over as Houston Texans’ head coach.
According to reports the deal will be announced on Thursday.
O’Brien leaves Penn State with a 15-9 overall record. The Nittany Lions went 7-5 in 2013, ending the year with an upset victory over then-ranked No. 15 Wisconsin in Madison. Penn State also knocked off a previously undefeated Michigan team in a four-overtime contest in Beaver Stadium.
Despite his relatively short tenure at Penn State and somewhat modest record, O’Brien will be remembered for stabilizing a program with an uncertain future following the Jerry Sandusky scandal and unprecedented sanctions by the NCAA.
A talented recruiter and high-IQ coach on Saturdays, O’Brien is largely credited for the rise of now Oakland Raiders’ quarterback Matt McGloin and current Penn State freshman quarterback and Big Ten Freshman of The Year, Christian Hackenberg.
O’Brien had three years remaining on his current contract and a $6 million dollar buyout. His contract was renegotiated last offseason to lower the buyout.
Over the past week, O’Brien rose as the leading candidate of the Houston Texans’ head coach position but it was unclear if the interviews were serious or an attempt to leverage Penn State administrators into more resources for the football program. The Texans set a self-imposed Tuesday deadline to name a new head coach. The Texans finished the 2013 NFL season with a 2-14 record and will have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
O’Brien follows Gary Kubiak (2006-13) and Dom Capers (2002-05) as coaches hired by owner Bob McNair since the franchise’s inception.
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