If one thing has been made clear in the past 48 hours, it is that Penn State Football head coach James Franklin landed his top choice as the Nittany Lions‘ next offensive coordinator.

Andy Kotelnicki arrives in Happy Valley, bringing the reputation as an innovative play-designer and play-caller with him to an offense that had become stagnant and predictable under his predecessor.

It’s also evident that Franklin and Penn State paid a premium for Kotelnicki.

According to a report from Audrey Snyder of The Athletic, Kotelnicki will earn $1.6 million in 2024, $1.7 million in  2025, $1.8 million in 2026, and his salary will peak at $2 million in the fourth year of his deal.

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What Andy Kotelnicki Brings Penn State Football

Franklin suggests that Kotelnicki was the Lions’ top target in the program’s exhaustive offensive coordinator search.

“Our search process for an offensive coordinator was extensive and throughout it, Andy’s name kept rising to the top of the list,” Franklin said, in a statement released by the program. “Not only were we impressed with Andy’s history of successful offensive production, but he has proven ability to win at all levels and play to the strength of his personnel. In his 18 years as a play caller,

“[Kotelnicki] has a track record of coming into a program and improving offenses, especially through explosive plays, third down conversions and red zone success. We are thrilled to have Andy and his family join us in Happy Valley.”

Franklin and the Lions obviously hope that Kotelnicki will import an offense that will be far more productive in big games than Penn State’s was against Ohio State and Michigan, where PSU combined for just 27 points in those matchups.

MORE: What Penn State Can Expect from Andy Kotelnicki’s Offense

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