After surprising the faculty soccer world along with his determination to fireside head coach James Franklin, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft spoke to reporters on Monday and passionately outlined his imaginative and prescient for the subsequent head coach in Completely happy Valley.
“Our subsequent coach can be somebody who embodies every part Penn State stands for: integrity, accountability, toughness, humility and an elite motivator,” Kraft told reporters. “We’ll discover a coach who can obtain excellence on the highest degree, doing it with confidence and conviction.
“This individual has to suit Penn State. They should symbolize the toughness, the blue-collar work ethic and the category that defines this establishment. We would like somebody who honors our custom however is not afraid to evolve. Somebody who understands the load of ‘We Are’ and leads us ahead with a imaginative and prescient of championships. The best coach will rebuild the unity and satisfaction that defines this historic program, and they’ll ignite this fan base round a shared perception that we’re able to greatness, and we’ll do it the precise approach, and we’re the very best program within the nation.”
James Franklin fell wanting the excessive expectations
Satirically, Franklin checked most of these containers throughout his profession at Penn State. The 2016 Massive Ten Coach of the 12 months went 104-45 with the Nittany Lions and received a Massive Ten Championship, a Rose Bowl, a Cotton Bowl and two School Soccer Playoff video games. He rebuilt Penn State from a tarnished program hindered by sanctions to a nationwide championship contender in only a few years.
With that success, although, got here larger expectations, and Franklin persistently fell wanting them. He went 4-21 towards AP top-10 groups and 4-17 towards Ohio State and Michigan. This was alleged to be the 12 months for Penn State to take the subsequent step, however consecutive losses to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern signaled the tip of Franklin’s time in Completely happy Valley.
Matt Rhule emerges as favourite for Penn State job
Primarily based on Kraft’s imaginative and prescient for Franklin’s alternative, there’s one identify that completely suits the invoice: Matt Rhule. Rhule, the present head coach at Nebraska, was a linebacker for Joe Paterno at Penn State and met his spouse, Julie, on campus. He additionally has private ties to Kraft, who employed him because the Temple head coach in 2012.
Rhule loves Penn State, is sweet buddies with the athletic director and embodies every part Kraft is searching for in a brand new chief. Whether or not it is Rhule or one other candidate, Kraft’s message for Penn State’s subsequent head coach is evident.
“What’s the trajectory of this program? You all know—I am not shy to confess it—I am right here to win a nationwide championship,” he stated Monday. “I consider our followers deserve that, and I get up on daily basis making an attempt to realize that purpose.”
