Report: Penn State Interested in Eric Mangini as Replacement for Joe Paterno as Head Coach

by Mike Cole on Thu, Dec 29, 2011 at 5:37PM

There have been plenty of names thrown around as potential replacements for the vacant head-coaching position at Penn State. Now, another former NFL head coach is reportedly on the Nittany Lions’ radar screen.

Former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini is drawing interest from the university in its search to replace Joe Paterno as head coach, FOX-29 in Philadelphia reports. Paterno, the longtime head coach, was fired this fall amid the ongoing Jerry Sandusky scandal.

“I know they are very interested [in Mangini,] the former NFL coach who has been fired twice in the NFL,” FOX-29 contributor Mike Missanelli said.

“He’s the latest flavor of the month. They will not be able to get a big name given to sustain what is going on.”

Mangini last held a head-coaching position in Cleveland with the Browns in 2010. He was fired two years into a four-year contract after leading the Browns to just a 10-22 record in two seasons. He previously coached three seasons with the Jets from 2005 to 2008, where he had a 23-25 record with one playoff appearance.

The 40-year-old has been doing work for ESPN recently as a studio analyst.

Tom Bradley, who served as the interim coach upon Paterno’s dismissal on Nov. 9, is also a candidate for the job.