Three Names, One Powerhouse Vacancy: Joel Klatt’s Shortlist for Penn State’s Next Head Coach
Penn State’s coaching search has officially moved into plot-twist territory. After parting ways with James Franklin in October and striking out on reported top target Kalani Sitake, the Nittany Lions are back on the market for a leader capable of keeping them in the national championship conversation. According to Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt, three names now anchor the rumor mill: New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, and a still-undisclosed “mystery” candidate lurking off the public radar.
The stakes are enormous. Penn State is a blue-blood brand with playoff aspirations, Big Ten title expectations, and a roster built to win quickly. This isn’t just another vacancy; it’s one of the sport’s true pressure-cooker jobs—and any coach who takes it will inherit both a powerhouse platform and a demanding fan base.
Penn State’s High-Stakes Reset in the Big Ten Power Structure
When Penn State fired James Franklin in October, it ended an era defined by consistency but capped ceilings. Franklin stabilized the program, delivered multiple New Year’s Six appearances, and kept the Nittany Lions nationally relevant. But with the College Football Playoff expanding and the Big Ten reshaped by the additions of USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, Penn State’s leadership clearly decided it needed a different trajectory—one that doesn’t just flirt with the top but lives there.
The initial push for BYU’s Kalani Sitake signaled a desire for a culture-builder: tough, player-focused, and steady in adversity. But Sitake’s decision to sign an extension left Penn State recalibrating its board.
“You don’t make a move like Penn State did unless you believe you can upgrade,” Joel Klatt said on his show. “Now they’ve got to prove it with this next hire.”
That’s where Klatt’s shortlist comes in—three very different paths to the same goal: winning the Big Ten and playing for national titles.
Brian Daboll: NFL Play-Caller With a Quarterback Whisperer Reputation
Brian Daboll is the headline name on Klatt’s list—and also the biggest swing. Currently the head coach of the New York Giants, Daboll’s stock rose on the strength of his work with Josh Allen in Buffalo and a 2022 AP NFL Coach of the Year award after guiding the Giants to the playoffs.
His appeal to Penn State is obvious:
- Proven offensive creativity and adaptability.
- Track record of developing quarterbacks at the highest level.
- Instant recruiting pitch to elite offensive talent craving NFL-style schemes.
How Daboll’s Profile Fits Penn State
While Daboll has not been a college head coach, he does have collegiate experience as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2017, working under Nick Saban. That year, the Crimson Tide averaged over 37 points per game and won the national title, giving Daboll at least some familiarity with the recruiting and development cycle at the college level.
| Stop | Role | Notable Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (2017) | Offensive Coordinator | National title; top-15 scoring offense |
| Buffalo Bills (2018–2020) | Offensive Coordinator | Helped develop Josh Allen into an MVP-level QB |
| New York Giants (2022– ) | Head Coach | AP NFL Coach of the Year (2022) |
Pros, Cons, and Realistic Odds
- Upside: If Penn State wants to be known as the place where quarterbacks become pros, Daboll is an almost perfect brand match.
- Risk: Lack of recruiting experience at scale, uncertainty about adjusting to NIL, the transfer portal, and year-round recruiting grind.
- Availability question: Any move would likely depend on Daboll’s status and comfort level in the NFL; prying an NFL coach away is rare and expensive.
“Daboll is the kind of hire that tells the sport you’re serious about offense and quarterback play,” Klatt noted. “It’s ambitious—but that’s what a job like Penn State should be aiming for.”
Jeff Brohm: Big Ten Veteran and Offensive Architect
If Daboll is the bold NFL swing, Jeff Brohm is the proven college play-caller with Big Ten familiarity. Now at Louisville after a successful run at Purdue, Brohm has built a reputation for fearless, creative offenses and for punching above his roster’s weight.
During his Purdue tenure, Brohm turned the Boilermakers into a giant-killer, famously toppling Ohio State and turning West Lafayette into a minefield for visiting favorites. At Louisville, he has continued to field efficient, explosive units while showing he can recruit and win at a high level in the ACC.
Why Brohm Makes Sense for Penn State
- Big Ten experience: He understands the physical demands and stylistic tendencies of the league.
- Offensive identity: Brohm’s teams are known for vertical passing and creative scheming—something Penn State fans have craved more consistently.
- Program builder: He has taken over imperfect situations and elevated them quickly.
| School | Notable Season | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue | Multiple upset wins vs ranked teams | Big Ten West title contender; explosive passing offense |
| Louisville | Immediate ACC contention | Balanced attack, improved trench play, strong home-field results |
The key question is whether Brohm would leave his alma mater at Louisville, where he has deep roots and significant support. From Penn State’s perspective, he’s the “college-ready” option who could keep the offense modern while understanding the week-to-week grind of recruiting and roster management.
“Brohm is proven in this sport,” Klatt observed. “You give him Big Ten-level resources, and he’s showed he can scheme with anyone.”
The Mystery Candidate: Quiet Conversations Behind the Scenes
Klatt’s third name isn’t a name at all—at least not yet. He teased a “mystery candidate,” a coach whose involvement has been kept deliberately quiet as Penn State navigates its options. That’s standard for a search of this magnitude: agents float some names, while serious discussions happen in the shadows.
While Klatt did not reveal who this mystery figure might be, the profile is easy enough to imagine:
- A sitting Power 5 head coach with proven success.
- Or an elite coordinator ready to take the leap to a major job.
- Someone with either strong recruiting chops, schematic excellence, or both.
Historically, big jobs like Penn State’s often circle back to names that weren’t initially prominent in the rumor mill. Administrative comfort, cultural fit, and willingness to handle modern college football’s realities—NIL fundraising, the transfer portal, year-round media pressure—all matter as much as win-loss records.
“There’s always one name nobody’s talking about publicly who’s very much in it behind the scenes,” Klatt said. “Penn State is no different.”
What the Next Coach Must Deliver: Playoff Push, Recruiting, and Identity
Any candidate—Daboll, Brohm, or the mystery coach—will inherit a program that expects to compete with Ohio State, Michigan, and the new Big Ten powers every season. That means the hire isn’t only about X’s and O’s; it’s about building a sustainable machine.
Key Requirements for Penn State’s Next Head Coach
- Recruiting at an elite level: Consistently landing top-10 classes and keeping in-state talent home.
- Quarterback development: Turning good prospects into game-changers—a defining trait of modern playoff teams.
- NIL and portal savvy: Managing roster churn while using the transfer portal as an asset, not a crutch.
- Clear identity: A recognizable style on both sides of the ball that travels in November weather and postseason play.
| Priority | Brian Daboll | Jeff Brohm | Mystery Candidate |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB Development | Elite (NFL track record) | Strong (college success) | Unknown; depends on identity |
| Recruiting Experience | Limited at college level | Proven college recruiter | Variable |
| Big Ten Familiarity | Indirect (NFL, Alabama) | Direct (Purdue tenure) | Unknown |
For Penn State’s players and recruits, clarity can’t come soon enough. Defensive leaders want to know what system they’ll be in. Offensive skill players are watching to see whether their next head coach is known for leaning on the ground game, spreading the field, or blending both. The longer the search goes, the more critical communication becomes inside the locker room and on the recruiting trail.
The Human Side: Players, Recruits, and a Fan Base on Edge
Coaching searches aren’t just message-board entertainment—they’re personal for the players and staff living through them. Upperclassmen weighing NFL decisions want to know who will guide their final season. Underclassmen recruited by the previous staff are re-evaluating their fit. And verbal commits are watching closely to see whether Penn State still matches the vision they signed up for.
Fans, too, are wrestling with competing emotions: gratitude for the stability Franklin provided, frustration at near-misses in the biggest games, and anticipation about what a fresh voice could unlock. The next coach must step into that emotional mix and win trust quickly.
“We just want someone who believes we can beat anybody, any week,” one current player told local reporters. “We feel like the pieces are here.”
That belief—from the locker room to the student section in the stands—may be Penn State’s greatest asset. The right coach won’t need to manufacture passion; it’s already built into the place. He’ll just need to harness it.
What Comes Next in Penn State’s Coaching Drama?
With Kalani Sitake off the board, the spotlight now tilts toward Joel Klatt’s trio: Brian Daboll, Jeff Brohm, and the unnamed contender operating offstage. Each represents a distinct philosophy and risk profile, from NFL vision to college-crafted consistency to wildcard upside.
However the search unfolds, the decision will reverberate far beyond State College. The Big Ten’s balance of power, the College Football Playoff race, and even national recruiting battles in the Northeast will all be shaped by the name Penn State eventually announces.
Questions That Will Define the Hire
- Will Penn State prioritize an NFL-style offensive mind or a proven college program builder?
- How heavily will Big Ten experience factor into the final decision?
- Can the new coach immediately stabilize recruiting and roster retention in the NIL era?
For now, all eyes remain on the short list and the mystery name behind it. One hire will decide whether Penn State merely stays relevant—or surges into the sport’s inner circle for the next decade.
For official updates and broader context on Penn State and the Big Ten, visit the NCAA college football page, the Big Ten Conference site, and Penn State’s official athletics site.
