The start of the Post-Paterno Era has brought widespread speculation about who will be the next Penn State head football coach.
No doubt dozens of coaches would please some portion of the blue-and-white faithful. But in the interest of time, we’ve identified 10 candidates who might be a good fit in Beaver Stadium next season.
The first five are profiled here, in an earlier listUPDATED on Dec. 1: Another set of five is profiled here.)
Harvard Coach Tim Murphy
- Pros: At Penn State, a sought-after quality is the ability to bring both football and academics to the table. While the Grand Experiment, as Joe Paterno labeled it, may never truly be replicated, the foundation and expectations of academic success are still in place. Tim Murphy would be the man for that job. Murphy has posted a 151-104-1 record while working at Maine, Cincinnati and, most recently, Harvard in his 25 years of coaching. From a football standpoint, Murphy has seen Harvard lose only four games since 2007 and has led the Crimson to a 119-59 record since 1994.
- Cons: As honorable as Murphy’s tenure at Harvard has been, the jump from the Ivy League to a major BCS conference is far from a simple task. For the most part, Murphy is a hard-nosed coach who expects the most from his players. Generally, that formula will win you a good number of football games. But the bottom line is that Murphy’s success at Penn State would depend on his ability to transition to a major program, and that is an unknown. That being said, coaches like Urban Meyer came from similar roots (Bowling Green), so the gamble can be worth it.
Georgia Coach Mark Richt
- Pros: With an SEC background, Richt obviously brings a successful tenure as a major BCS conference coach. A 96-34 record in the SEC isn’t anything to scoff at, and Richt’s two SEC championships would bring Penn State a coach who knows how to win. While Richt is currently preparing the Bulldogs for a match-up against LSU in the SEC championship game, he has always been somewhat under-appreciated in Georgia circles and could be looking for a change.
- Cons: The only real knock in Penn State’s eyes, outside of any academic policies, is his lacking ties in Penn State recruiting areas. Certainly, having been born in Nebraska, Richt has some connections in the area, but it seems unlikely that he would be successful at Penn State if he is relying on his old SEC stomping grounds.
Boise State Coach Chris Petersen
- Pros: Petersen just knows how to win. With a .942 winning percentage and only five losses in his five years at Boise State, he has become one of the most respected coaches in the industry. While you might be able to knock Boise State for a weak conference schedule, strong performances in BCS bowls have proven Petersen’s success to be very much for real.
- Cons: Simply put, Petersen hasn’t been interested in leaving Boise State. Between his son’s battle with cancer and his love for Boise State, prying Petersen away from his school wouldn’t be an easy task. There is no real downside to hiring Petersen; it’s just a matter of getting him here.
Louisville Coach Charlie Strong
- Pros: While Strong has struggled to find great success at Louisville in his two years at the helm, he brings a strong resume of coaching experience to the table. Former Florida defensive coordinator from 2002 to 2009, he was the only Ron Zook staff member retained after Urban Meyer was hired in 2004. Strong also spent time at Notre Dame and South Carolina as an assistant from 1995 to 2001 and was the first African-American coordinator in SEC history.
- Cons: Again, the risk with all young head coaches involves the ability to transition and find success at a major program. While the Big East is still considered to be a major BCS conference, Strong’s 14-11 record does raise an eyebrow. Many believe that Strong is a coach waiting for the right program to hire him and that his 14-11 record is not indicative of his abilities. Strong might be an appealing choice, but he comes with a risk.
Delaware Coach K.C Keeler
- Pros: A quarterback-building machine, Keeler boasts the development of quarterback Joe Flacco and former Nittany Lion and Delaware transfer Pat Devlin. Keeler has posted an 81-46 record while at Delaware and has won one Division AA title in his short tenure with the Fighting Hens. He’s a respected coach on the college and professional levels and would be a interesting choice for Penn State.
- Cons: Like almost all of the other coaches on our list, Keeler would have to transition from a lower-FCS-division coaching position to the head coaching job at a major BCS school. There isn’t any doubt that Keeler knows how to win, but as far as thinking outside the box, Penn State could probably do a lot better.
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