Penn State football coaching search 2025: Candidates, hot board, names to watch from Nittany Lions experts
The Lions247 team just revealed their top Penn State coaching candidates after James Franklin was fired on Oct. 12

It's been one of the busiest coaching carousels in recent memory, and as the calendar turns to December, Penn State is the top program with an opening remaining. The Nittany Lions fired James Franklin back on Oct. 12 with an eye on getting ahead of the carousel, but they'll be making a hire later than programs like LSU, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas and Virginia Tech, where Franklin ultimately landed.
There have been several public rejections with names like Matt Rhule, Curt Cignetti and Kalani Sitake all agreeing to new deals with their respective schools in the midst of being rumored Penn State candidates. Where do the Nittany Lions turn now? If you love the Nittany Lions, or just want to know who will be calling the shots for Penn State in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of experts are saying at Lions247.
Lions247 with Fight on State brings fans trusted coverage from a dedicated team of insiders. With 20+ years and a staff that includes Mark Brennan, Tyler Donohue, Tyler Calvaruso and Daniel Gallen, the site delivers daily updates, recruiting scoop, and team news. Lions247 with Fight on State is the market leader in coverage of Penn State athletics! Join the conversation and experience the power of the Lions247 with the Fight on State community. Want even more? Sign up for a VIP membership now and unlock all the insider content and features today.
And right now, Lions247 is offering 75% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at Lions247 is on their 14th version of the hot board, and and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to Lions247 now to see them all.
Top Penn State football coach candidates
One name the staff has identified as a potential target on the Penn State football coaching hot board is Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm. The former Louisville and NFL quarterback returned to his alma mater as the head coach in 2023 after previous stints as the head coach at Western Kentucky and Purdue.
In total, Brohm is 93-56 as a head coach, though his ACC record at Louisville has gotten worse each of the past three seasons. The Cardinals looked like playoff contenders after a 7-1 start this season, but they lost three straight after that. They did bounce back with a dominant 41-0 win over rival Kentucky last week, however.
"Across his career, Brohm carries four victories versus top-five opponents," Donohue wrote. "That success includes three top-five wins at Purdue over No. 2 Ohio State (2018), No. 2 Iowa (2021) and No. 3 Michigan State (2021). Brohm produced a 36-34 record in six seasons with the Boilermakers, reaching eight regular-season wins in each of his last two seasons with a 2022 Big Ten West title. Neither his predecessor nor successor at Purdue surpassed four wins." See more candidates at Lions247.
How to get insider Penn State coaching search updates
The rest of the list includes several other exciting possibilities, including multiple coaches who currently have their team in the College Football Playoff mix. You can only see who it is by joining Lions247.
Who are the top names in the Penn State football coaching search, and which playoff-caliber coaches could the Nittany Lions take a big swing on? Go to Lions247 to see their Penn State coaching hot board and more, all from a team of reporters with extensive experience covering the Nittany Lions, and find out.
And remember, Lions247 is offering 75% off an annual VIP membership, so subscribe now before it's too late.
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