Penn State football coaching search 2025: Candidates, hot board, names to watch from Nittany Lions experts

Here is a summary of the news article in 186 words: Penn State has begun their search for a new head football coach after firing James Franklin on October 12th. The Lions247 team has identified several potential candidates for the position. Top contenders include Matt Rhule, current head coach of the Carolina Panthers, and Deion Sanders, head coach at Jackson State University. Other names to watch include Greg Schiano, head coach at Rutgers, and Jeff Brohm, head coach at Purdue. The article also mentions several current Penn State coordinators and assistants who could be considered, such as offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Factors that will likely be important in Penn State's decision-making process include the candidate's previous head coaching experience, their ability to recruit top talent, and their fit with the program's culture and expectations. The search is still in the early stages, and Penn State will likely take their time to thoroughly evaluate all potential candidates before making a decision on their next head football coach.