Penn State coaching hot board 2.0

Since releasing my first edition of the Penn State head coaching hot board earlier this week, a lot has happened. The most notable development would be the new contract signed by Curt Cigenetti at Indiana, thus leading to his removal from this second edition of the hot board.

Indiana was going to make it difficult for any other potential suitor to pry Cignetti away from Bloomington. If it was all about dollars and cents, then Indiana delivered what was needed to keep Cignetti, arguably the top coaching candidate out there, from considering other options. Indiana signed Cignetti to a new eight-year contract and he has stated his plan is to retire as a Hoosier. Good for Indiana to get the deal done.

As for Penn State, landing Cignetti would have been a strong move, but the search will continue on without Cignetti in the fold. Therefore, he has officially been removed from the hot board. There are a few changes to the hot board 2.0 from the 1.0 version.

• Added: Kenny Dillingham, Alex Golesh
• Removed: Curt Cignetti, Larry Johnson

I'm removing Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti following his new contract deal with the Hoosiers. I have also removed former Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr. After mulling it over a bit, I just see no path to Johnson being the head coach of the Nittany Lions, but I would not rule out a return in some other role.

Matt Rhule, Nebraska coach

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule continues to be one of the more likely names to be the next head coach at Penn State. Rhule did comment on the coaching change in Happy Valley when meeting with the media this week, and his comments were equally favorable to his alma mater and dedicated to his current position in Lincoln. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola has stated Rhule isn't about to leave for another job, but his name will continue to be among the leading candidates until proven otherwise.

Manny Diaz, Duke coach

Another head coach with Penn State ties, Manny Diaz will also continue to be a name to watch as a potential candidate. Diaz was another coach who offered some thoughts on the opening at Penn State when asked about it in his media availability at the beginning of the week.

Terry Smith, Penn State interim coach

Terry Smith will get the first chance at an open audition of sorts this weekend when Penn State visits Iowa. Smith's goal is to keep the team focused on finding a way to clean up the mistakes in recent weeks and finish this season on a strong footing. It may be easier said than done, but Smith's message to the team this week has been to build off the guilt the team has collectively for having James Franklin fired. If Smith finds a way to deliver some wins in the coming weeks, his chances would seemingly skyrocket.

Fran Brown, Syracuse coach

Fran Brown has a history with Penn State AD Pat Kraft dating to their time at Temple. Kraft interviewed Brown twice to be the coach of the Owls, but Kraft never handed him the job. Brown has been a pleasant surprise with Syracuse in his second season on the job. The New Jersey native won 10 games at Syracuse in 2024, and he scored a big upset win over Clemson early in the 2025 season. This season has taken a bad turn with a severe injury to starting quarterback Steve Angeli. Like others listed above, Brown was asked about his name being attached to various coaching search rumors tied to Penn State during his media availability earlier this week.

Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame head coach

I still consider it highly unlikely Penn State takes a swing at Marcus Freeman and comes away luring him away from South Bend. I think Freeman has it great with Notre Dame and the more likely Big Ten job he would leave the Irish for would be his alma mater, Ohio State. But Freeman's name was discussed at length this week as a potential top target for Pat Kraft, and I have to admit I like the idea. For now, Freeman stays on the board. Freeman leads Notre Dame against USC this weekend in a game that swings momentum for a path to the playoff for the winner.

Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri coach

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz caused a bit of a stir with his reactions to his name being thrown into coaching search conversations at other schools in the media. Maybe the pressure is already getting to him? Who knows, but his success with the Tigers despite coming off a loss to Alabama is reason enough to keep the offensive-minded coach on the hot board for now.

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt coach

Penn State hired James Franklin away from Vanderbilt. Could it lure away Vanderbilt's coach again? Clark Lea has Vanderbilt playing at a level the program really hasn't seen since Franklin left for the Penn State job. His profile is clearly rising with Vandy's performance this season. If Penn State is to get a coach from the SEC, Lea could be the most likely candidate.

Mike Elko, Texas A&M coach

The next time I update the hot board here, this is a name I may feel inclined to remove. Earlier this week, we took a look at why Mike Elko should not be considered a serious candidate for the Penn State job, and it would be difficult to find pockets deep enough to win a contract battle with Texas A&M, one would think.

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin would be an interesting candidate. If nothing else, Penn State would get an offense-minded coach who would deliver results in the passing game. Kiffin is also a wizard with the transfer portal, and he would be able to attract plenty of recruits with Penn State's resources and investments. He is riding high with Ole Miss right now, but would Penn State give him a better overall chance at a national title?

Matt Campbell, Iowa State coach

Matt Campbell continues to be on the national radar as a coach who could be ready to leave Iowa State for a better opportunity. The coach of the Cyclones since 2016, Campbell is a proven winner in runs at Toledo and Iowa State. He was the MAC Coach of the Year in 2015 and is a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year. His career coaching record is 104-58. If he is looking for a bigger opportunity, Penn State would certainly offer it.

Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State coach

I did not include Kenny Dillingham in my initial hot board but have seen his name mentioned enough to warrant including him this time. How long he stays here is unknown as he does feel like a guy who will stick with the Sun Devils. He is young and has the kind of offensive mind Penn State could benefit. He is an ASU alum and he is in a good spot as far as Big 12 programs are concerned. He would quickly change the culture of Penn State football if hired away.

Alex Golesh, USF coach

Another newcomer on my hot board this time is South Florida head coach Alex Golesh. Golesh is heading to some interesting coaching opportunities after guiding the Bulls to a top-25 caliber season, and perhaps a possible berth in the College Football Playoff in the future. His name has been floated by some media types, so I'll include him on our radar for now.

Bill O'Brien, Boston College coach

I think the world of Bill O'Brien and would be curious to see what he could do with a fully-operational Penn State prorgam as far as recruiting and player development is concerned. MY biggest "what if" question about Penn State football remains what the trajectory of Christian Hackenberg would have been under four years with O'Brien as his head coach instead of just one. But do not be surprised if I drop O'Brien from my hot board 3.0 next week. I have little reason to believe O'Brien would contemplate a return to Happy Valley.

Dan Mullen, UNLV coach

Dan Mullen came out and told reporters he plans on staying at UNLV in 2026, and that may very well be true. But I'm not about to take a coach's word like that just yet, without some kind of financial backing the way Cignetti got at Indiana. I'll keep Mullen on this hot board for now and keep an eye on what he says and does. Mullen leads UNLV in a massive Mountain West Conference game this weekend against Boise State. A win could put UNLV on track for a possible spot in the College Football Playoff.

Urban Meyer, Fox college football analyst

Speaking of former Florida head coaches, I'm still inclined to keep Urban Meyer on the board for now. We don't know for sure if his coaching days are completely done, although he has a pretty nice TV gig right now. But if he wants to get away from the Barstool Sports push on Fox's pregame coverage, maybe a return to the sidelines may be in order.

Nick Saban, ESPN college football analyst

Similarly, if working with Pat McAfee is what drives Nick Saban back into coaching, Penn State should at least make the phone call. I think there is even less a chance of Saban returning to coaching than there is for Meyer. As a result, this may be Saban's final appearance on my hot board.

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

There are not a ton of names from the NFL on the hot board right now, but Joe Brady remains the top potential candidate from the pros. Brady is a former Penn State graduate assistant and has established a solid track record everywhere he has gone. TO me, he still feels more likely to eventually have an NFL coaching role, so I don't think he will remain in the conversation for very long.

Al Golden, Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator

I think the window for Al Golden to be the head coach at Penn State passed years ago, but I do still wonder if this would be still be in the mix as a possibility. Golden may not be at the top of my list, but I'll keep him on the hot board for another week.

D'Anton Lynn, USC defensive coordinator

Former Penn State player D'Anton Lynn has been working his way up the coaching ranks and could be on track to be a head coach at some point. Whether he is ready to make the jump to his alma mater remains to be seen. But we will be watching closely this weekend as Lynn coaches USC's defense against Notre Dame in a pivotal game in the upcoming race to the College Football Playoff.

Bobby Engram, Washington Commanders wide receiver coach

I'll probably be removing Bobby Engram as a head coaching candidate for Penn State in my next hot board update next week, although I would still be inclined to keep an eye on Penn State's all-time leading receiver as a potential offensive coordinator hire. As I noted previously, Engram and Lynn spent time on the coaching staff with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021.

Brian Hartline, Ohio State offensive coordinator

Penn State made a move to hire Ohio State's defensive coordinator last year. Could it go after the offensive coordinator of the Buckeyes for its next move? There has already been speculation Penn State is looking at Brian Hartline as a potential coaching candidate; he is one of the top coordinators on the rise right now. The Ohio State alumnus has spent his entire coaching career with the Buckeyes so far, starting as an offensive quality control assistant in 2017 and ascending to his current role as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Ohio State's track record with wide receivers since 2018 is worth respecting, especially given Penn State's struggles to create sustained success at the position.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State coaching hot board 2.0