Reports: Penn State zeroing in on new head coach

Bill O'Brien is currently the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. Could he be Penn State's next head football coach? (File photo)

Several media outlets are reporting this afternoon that Penn State has identified New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien as the coach it wants to succeed Joe Paterno and that university officials hope to meet with him this week to work out the details of a contract.

O'Brien, 42, is in the last year of his contract as the Patriots offensive coordinator. He is a graduate of Brown University, just like Joe Paterno.

According to ESPN, Penn State is expected to intensify its efforts to hire O'Brien following Monday's TicketCity Bowl between Penn State and Houston.

Meanwhile, Jonny Saraceno of USA Today stated today that "only contract details need to be finalized" before Penn State names O'Brien as the football program's new head coach.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also has a new report this afternoon on the coaching search, which may still include Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak. Read the Post-Gazette report here.

Source: http://www.ydr.com/sports/ci_19654341?source=rss

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