Long-time Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson has decided to leave the Nittany Lion program despite being offered a chance to stay on in his current role by new head coach James Franklin, PennLive.com reported on Monday.
Johnson, 61, has been at PSU since 1996. He coached special teams and defensive ends before becoming the defensive line coach in 2000. He served as Penn State’s interim head coach after Bill O’Brien left in December to become coach of the Houston Texans.
Courtney Brown, Michael Haynes, Jimmy Kennedy, and Tamba Hali are among the all-stars Johnson coached while at Penn State.
“This is not the end for me, it’s just the end of my time at Penn State,’' Johnson said. “There is a lot left for me to do with football and I am not done. I am just thankful for the time I had at Penn State and with my players.”
Psst. Hey, coach. We hear USC has an opening.
UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Sports Illustrated is reporting on Monday night that Johnson is in the process of finalizing a deal with Ohio State. He would replace Mike Vrabel, who left the Buckeyes to take a job with the Houston Texans.