Penn State Football: Ron Vanderlinden and the Future of Linebacker U? How About Another 10 Years

A quick note to pass along from Thursday afternoon’s conference call with linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden.

Vandy, of course, is one of two coaching holdovers from the Joe Paterno regime, along with defensive line coach Larry Johnson. He’s been one of the best position coaches in the nation, helping churn out recent NFL talents such as Sean Lee, Dan Connor, Paul Posluszny, Tim Shaw and NaVorro Bowman.

Vanderlinden, in his 50s, interviewed last year to become Joe Paterno’s successor, before the search committee settled on Bill O’Brien. He’s been a head coach at Maryland and an assistant at Penn State since 2001.

Thursday, he was asked if he still had aspirations to be a head coach. And, just how much longer does he want to coach? The good news for Penn State fans is he sounds content staying put.

‘Well I think every assistant would love to be a head coach,’ Vanderlinden said. ‘However I enjoy the role that I have. I enjoy doing what I’m doing. I hope to coach another 10 years. I feel like I’m still a young man.’