Penn State is currently searching for their next head coach to replace Bill O’Brien. With Al Golden confirming his satisfaction with Miami and Vanderbilt’s James Franklin drawing interest from the NFL, fired Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak ha started to gain some momentum as a candidate for the Nittany Lions. Knowing what one rather significant criticism of his coaching resume is, Munchak apparently laid out a full plan for how he would run the program from day one if he wins the job.
According to David Jones of The Patriot News, Penn State sources have confirmed Munchak had an interview with Penn State and he made sure to make a point of being able to adapt to the college game after decades in the NFL as a player and coach. According to the report, “Munchak made a detailed presentation of exactly how he would go about recruiting, who he believed would be on his staff and how he would sell 2014-class recruits on remaining committed to the program and signing next month.”
At least he came prepared, from the sound of it. Munchak is a former Penn State offensive lineman standout, so he certainly would come to the program knowing about the history and tradition as well as everything that has gone on with the program in recent years. As has been reported, the Titans were prepared to offer Munchak a contract extension if he made some coaching staff changes but his refusal to do so led the franchise to removing him as head coach. That could be a bit of a concern for Penn State over time if Munchak becomes the next head coach. While Penn State’s coaching staff has traditionally had a strong sense of stability, there could come a time when a change would have to be made on the staff for whatever reason.
Would Munchak be more willing to make a staff change in the future? Could that end up being a negative? Or is there something to be said about coaching staff stability through thick and thin?