Penn State coaching search: Joel Klatt names top four candidates to replace James Franklin

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt named the top four candidates to replace James Franklin at Penn State in one of the biggest openings in college football. Franklin was fired in the middle of his 12th season at 3-3 this season.

“This is a pivotal moment for Penn State. Everybody knows that,” Klatt said on his podcast. “Everybody knows that we’ve seen programs that have tradition, that have some momentum, have some history of success, and they go one of two directions … Do you want to bring somebody in who can take you to the next level, right? Not just totally rebuild it and do all of these things. So who is that guy?”

So without further ado, let’s take a look at Klatt’s prediction for the names to watch. He said Penn State is bound to hire one of these four coaches.

Curt Cignetti, Indiana

Klatt: “This guy is a proven commodity. And after this last weekend, with that win over Oregon, I don’t think there’s a hotter name in college football right now than Curt Cignetti.”

Cignetti might end up being the hottest name out there in coaching circles. Indiana is No. 3 in the country and he is 17-2 in a season-plus at Indiana, a traditional basketball school. The Hoosiers winning the Big Ten or more this year might not be surprising at all now.

Manny Diaz, Duke

Klatt: “A guy that just had a lot of success as the defensive coordinator at Penn State, and now is doing a really good job at Duke, it’s Manny Diaz. I think that Manny Diaz is going to get a call in this situation.”

Diaz is 13-6 in a season-plus at Duke and his second go-round as a head coach looks better than his first stint at Miami. He was Penn State’s defensive coordinator recently so it makes sense. Now if he were in charge of the whole program? Maybe that’s what takes them over the top.

Matt Rhule, Nebraska

Klatt: “Obviously there’s a relationship there. Matt obviously knows, and is, in a lot of ways, Penn State, so I think that’s going to be a call.”

The program reviver! Rhule is a Penn State alum and good friends with AD Pat Kraft. Rhule has rebuilt Temple and Baylor and could hit that Year 3 stride at Nebraska. Funny enough, Nebraska is a massive job if Rhule makes them regular Big Ten and national contenders. But is there mutual interest to bring him home?

Brian Hartline, Ohio State OC

Klatt: “I think Brian Hartline is going to be an incredible head coach, and he will be a head coach at some point in his career. I don’t know if it’s right now. I don’t know what level of job that he’s going to ultimately get, but I do know one thing, this guy is the best recruiter at his position group over the last 10 years, and it’s not close.”

Hartline is a fascinating candidate considering he has not been a head coach yet. But trading Ohio State red for Penn State blue would be quite the sight. There’s no doubt Hartline’s developed incredible receivers and helps operate a great offense. Young blood for potentially a massive payoff? Perhaps the Nittany Lions make the call.