Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin has reportedly been offered the head coaching position at Penn State University, the Scranton Times Tribune reported Wednesday.
After nearly five decades of Joe Paterno pacing the sidelines, the school is looking for its second head coach in just three years. Bill O’Brien, who took the Penn State job in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, was hired as head coach of the NFL’s Houston Texans in December.
Franklin’s accomplishments at Vanderbilt have earned him national recognition and a reputation as one of the brightest up-and-coming head coaches. He revived a fledgling football program and made the Commodores relevant almost immediately.
With Franklin at the helm, Vandy made three consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history. In his second season (2012), the team finished in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 1948.
Franklin is expected to accept or reject the offer on Thursday, according to the report.
