Penn State's Coaching Crossroads: Who Should They Call First? The Nittany Lions are on the hunt for a new head coach, and the buzz is they're aiming for a 'big swing.' But who should be at the top of their list? According to FOX Sports' Joel Klatt, the answer is clear: Nick Saban.
Klatt, speaking with Colin Cowherd, boldly suggested that Penn State Athletic Director Pat Kraft should make Saban his very first call. Now, this might sound a bit audacious, considering Saban's recent retirement from Alabama and his current role with ESPN College GameDay, where he even snagged an Emmy last year. But Klatt's reasoning? To ensure Saban isn't an option, and to set the tone for a high-impact coaching search.
Klatt also mentioned potential candidates like Dan Lanning of Oregon and Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame, suggesting they should also receive calls. But here's where it gets controversial: Klatt questioned whether Freeman would leave Notre Dame, especially after leading them to a national championship game appearance. He even pondered if Penn State could be considered a better job than Notre Dame.
"I think that Pat Kraft, the athletic director at Penn State, is going to take a big swing,” Klatt said. “I don’t think that anybody is off of his list, to be honest with you. If I was Pat Kraft, I would start with the biggest swing possible. I know this sounds crazy, but I think the first call I would make is Nick Saban and just make sure that that’s not going to happen.
“And then you start going down the list of the other coaches around the country. I think Dan Lanning will get a call, I think Marcus Freeman would get a call.”
Klatt believes Penn State is in a prime position, with significant investment in their stadium and a supportive athletic director. He even mentioned Curt Cignetti as another coach who should get a call.
A Bold Comparison: Penn State's Potential for Transformation Klatt drew a parallel to Georgia's coaching search in 2015, where they replaced Mark Richt with Kirby Smart. Richt had a strong record, but Georgia felt they could achieve more. Smart, previously Nick Saban's defensive coordinator, led Georgia to two national titles. Klatt wonders if Penn State could experience a similar transformative moment.
"I would be swinging for the fences if I was Pat Kraft because here’s the thing,” Klatt said. “This reminds me a lot – maybe not quite to the tier of Georgia, but Mark Richt at Georgia seemed to have a ceiling on that program and they felt like they could go higher. They bring in Kirby Smart and they did go higher. Maybe that’s the moment that we’re in for Penn State right now, where the next guy is going to lift the ceiling of this program and they can actually go out there and win some of these Top-25, Top-10 game that James Franklin has fallen short in.”
What do you think? Do you agree with Klatt's assessment? Should Penn State aim for a 'big swing,' or are there other coaching strategies they should consider? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
