The hiring of former NFL head coach Jim Haslett was a bit confusing for many Penn State fans. Not because the hire was made, but rather that Haslett’s role within the program was left somewhat unspecified when it was announced.
As a result the Internet came up with its own theories, anything from a defensive coordinator in waiting to someone influencing James Franklin behind the scenes.
And because Franklin is wise to what fans are thinking, he made sure to clarify Haslett’s position within the program during Thursday’s media day.
“There’s been a lot of discussions and questions about Coach Haslett,” Franklin said. “There’s really not a whole lot more than what it is. I know always people think there’s some other plan. Coach Haslett, we’ve got a great situation. His father in law lives here in town. His son is going to be a senior at IUP this year, and decided he had another year left on his contract, decided he was going to sit this year out so he could see his son play, and was spending time around our staff.”
“My offensive coordinator from college, Coach Frye, Jim Frye, they worked together at the University of Buffalo. Brett Frye, his son, they’ve been family friends for a long time, so he was around. We had an opportunity to get a 30 year vet as a head coach in the NFL as well as a coordinator that wanted to work for us and wanted to spend some time with us.”
As Franklin would later note, Penn State is paying him next to nothing to do the job. Haslett is still being paid by the Washington Redskins. The result is virtual a free ear and equally free advice.
That doesn’t mean you’ll see him actually near the team though. The vast majority of Haslett’s son’s games fall at the same time as Penn State’s. So while the Nittany Lions are hitting the field, Haslett will be hitting the road to watch his son play.
“It might be the best deal in the country because I think our GA’s are making more money than him,” Franklin added. “It’s a great situation.”
“He’s going to work with everything. He’s going to work with the offense, he’s going to work with the defense, he’s going to work with special teams. He can’t work with the players. He can’t coach the players. He can’t recruit. He’s basically going to be watching the defense, watching the offense, watching special teams. Coaches will be able to grab him and say what did you think today, what are your thoughts, what are your perspectives, what are some things that you’ve done over the last 30 years that you would do differently now looking back at it. He’s a sounding board and he’s a resource, really, for everybody in the building.”
“But by NCAA rules and by some of the guidelines here at Penn State, he’s limited it’s not like he’s going to be out there with a whistle and a hat and running around and coaching.”
So that seems fairly conspiracy free.
For now.
