With Bill O’Brien looking more and more likely to bolt for the NFL, Penn State already is looking at some potential candidates to replace him.
Penn State is interested in talking with former Rutgers and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano if the job becomes available, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Schiano was an assistant at Penn State under Joe Paterno from 1990 to 1995.
Schiano, 47, is 11-20 in his second season with the Bucs. After they overachieved at 7-9 in 2012, the Bucs entered this season with high expectations, especially after acquiring All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis during the offseason, but Tampa Bay largely has been a disappointment, entering Sunday’s finale just 4-11. However, the Bucs have turned it around in recent weeks, going 4-3 over the last seven games following a 0-8 start to the season.
Before he joined the Bucs, Schiano established himself among the best college coaches in the country at Rutgers. He revitalized a desolate program, going 68-67 in 11 seasons and leading the Scarlet Knights to six bowl games in his last seven years.
O’Brien has been surprisingly successful at the helm during his two seasons in Happy Valley, going 15-9 and winning the Maxwell Coach of the Year award in 2012. He is a top candidate for the Houston Texans’ head-coaching job, which reportedly will be decided by Tuesday, according to NFL Network.
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