Penn State reportedly shows interest in former Big Ten coach

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft is still in the thick of the hiring process as he looks to find the next leader of the Nittany Lions football program. While some coaching candidates have been taken off the table by signing new deals with their current schools, a familiar name is getting some buzz; Pat Fitzgerald.

According to college football insider Bruce Feldman, who spoke on a recent episode of Chris “The Bear” Fallica’s podcast, Penn State has shown genuine interest in the former Northwestern head coach. Feldman cited conversations with industry sources that point to Fitzgerald being a name under serious consideration by Kraft and Penn State leadership.

Fitzgerald has a history of overachieving in the Big Ten, taking Northwestern to the conference championship game twice, in 2018 and 2020. During his 17-year run as head coach, he finished with a 110-101 record, building a reputation for doing more with less at a school that historically lacked football resources. He was Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2018 and won the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award in 2020, signaling national recognition for what he accomplished in Evanston.

Feldman noted that Penn State insiders are intrigued by Fitzgerald’s ability to maximize limited rosters and think he could thrive with the support and resources available in State College — a place that offers far more than what he had at Northwestern.

Controversial Exit from Northwestern

Fitzgerald hasn’t coached since 2023, when he was fired amid a hazing scandal tied to the Northwestern football program. He later sued the school for wrongful termination and eventually reached a legal settlement. The former linebacker and College Football Hall of Famer has made it clear he wants back in the game, and Penn State might be his opportunity.

That said, there’s some baggage. In three of his last four seasons at Northwestern, the Wildcats were underwhelming, finishing 3-9, 3-9, and 1-11 in those years. He had a 4-20 record in his final two seasons, which has raised eyebrows among Penn State fans and analysts alike.

What It Means for Penn State

While Fitzgerald’s off-field controversies and late-career struggles can’t be ignored, his track record of building competitive teams, along with his deep Big Ten experience, make him a logical target for a program looking to stabilize after firing James Franklin.

If Penn State moves forward with Fitzgerald, they’ll be betting that a coach who once thrived under constraints can flourish with the Nittany Lions’ elite resources, talent pool, and expectations.

This story is still developing — but Fitzgerald’s name is officially in the mix.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State shows interest in former Big Ten coach Pat Fitzgerald

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos