Penn State Football: 5 Candidates for Head Coach in 2014

2 of 6

5. Mike Munchak, HC Tennessee Titans

Don McPeak - USA TODAY Sports

Mike Munchak is a former Penn State offensive lineman who played for Joe Paterno in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. He’s been in the NFL for a very long time, most of it as an assistant coach, but has spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans where he’s compiled a 22-26 record. Munchak’s status for next season with Tennessee is still uncertain and the 53-year-old was a candidate for the job the last time it was open a few years ago. Is now the time for him to return to Penn State?

3 of 6

4. Greg Schiano, Former-HC Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Derick E. Hingle - USA TODAY Sports

While Greg Schiano may not be the hottest name in coaching after being fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following an 11-21 two-year stint in the NFL, the coach has ties to Penn State and a track record for rebuilding programs. He was a former assistant under Paterno before he took over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and achieved one of the most impressive rebuilding jobs in recent college football history. The question is now whether he can recapture that Rutgers’ magic or if he’s tainted by his failure in Tampa.

4 of 6

3. Pat Narduzzi, DC Michigan State Spartans

Bruce Thorson - USA TODAY Sports

The Michigan State Spartans just completed one of their best seasons in school history, finishing the year 13-1 with a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl Championship to show for it. Pat Narduzzi has been a key piece of that success, building up one of the nation’s top defenses and making the Spartans a perennial Big Ten contender. He doesn’t have ties to the program but is one of the hottest names among assistant coaches looking to become head coaches. He was a candidate for the Connecticut Huskies job and seems like a lock to lead his own program sooner rather than later. Could he restore the defensive luster to Linebacker U?

5 of 6

2. Greg Roman, OC San Francisco 49ers

Cary Edmondson - USA TODAY Sports

Penn State had some pretty good luck the last time they plucked an offensive coordinator from the NFL, so why not try it again? Greg Roman is one of the most highly regarded offensive coaches in football and was a candidate for the Penn State job when O’Brien ultimately got it two years ago. He’s spent most of his time in the NFL but did coach under Jim Harbaugh for two years with the Stanford Cardinal before following Harbaugh to the San Francisco job. Could another highly regarded offensive coordinator from the NFL be the answer for Penn State?

6 of 6

1. James Franklin, HC Vanderbilt Commodores

Randy Sartin - USA TODAY Sports

The hottest name in coaching vacancies this offseason will be James Franklin of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Franklin has done a phenomenal job making Vanderbilt competitive with limited resources, taking the Commodores from the cellar of the SEC to three straight bowl appearances. There’s no doubt that Franklin would be a force if he were able to recruit for a historically powerful program like Penn State. He is a native of eastern Pennsylvania and was on the same staff as O’Brien as an assistant for the Maryland Terrapins in 2003-04. Is the hottest name the right name for Penn State’s job opening?