Pat Kraft Reveals What Penn State Wants in Next Head Coach After Firing James Franklin
In a first for the Nittany Lions in 12 years, Penn State held a weekly press conference from Beaver Stadium without James Franklin.
Instead, Athletic Director Pat Kraft and interim Penn State Football head coach Terry Smith met with the media to answer questions surrounding Penn State’s Franklin firing, the Penn State Football coaching search for a new head coach, and the way forward for Penn State the rest of the season.
Here are the top takeaways from Kraft and Smith’s press conference.
Top Takeaways from Pat Kraft, Terry Smith’s Press Conference
Pat Kraft Wants a Coach That Will Take Penn State into the Future and Will Win a National Championship
In his initial statement and answers, Pat Kraft laid out exactly what he was looking for in a head coach at Penn State.
According to Kraft, Penn State will conduct a “national search” for a coach who can “achieve excellence at the highest level.”
Kraft left no ambiguity in terms of what he and the Athletic Program view as requirements for the Nittany Lions’ next head football coach.
“Has to fit Penn State,” Kraft told reporters. “They need to represent the toughness, the blue-collar work ethic, and the class that defines this institution. Kraft continued that he is looking for someone who “honors tradition but isn’t afraid to evolve, someone who understands the weight of ‘we are’ and leads us forward with a vision of championships.
“The right coach will rebuild the unity and pride that defines this historic program, and they will ignite this fan base around a shared belief that we’re capable of greatness, and we’re going to do it the right way. We are the best program in the country.”
Ultimately, Kraft noted that he made the move because he wants a leader that can “help us win a national championship.”
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Pat Kraft’s decision was not just because of the 3-game skid
In answer questions about why Pat Kraft decided it was time to move on from James Franklin, Kraft noted that “this is not a three-game thing. This is really diving into where we were as a program. What is the trajectory of this program? and you all know, i’m not shy to admit it. I’m here to win national championships.”
Kraft noted that he came to the decision to move on from Franklin on Sunday and was “going to sleep on it” until ultimately deciding to make the move Sunday.
“Anything this significant doesn’t come on a whim,” Kraft noted. Once he came to his decision, Kraft stated he needed to “make the decision with a whole heart and conviction.” Kraft continued that “I knew it was the right course of action for us as a program and more importantly for the team.”
Penn State Athletics Not the University Will Fund Franklin’s Buyout
Pat Kraft did not want to get into the specifics of the James Franklin buyout, which on paper is the second highest in college football history.
Although he didn’t answer specifics, Kraft did note that Franklin’s buyout is “an athletics issue” not an issue for the university. Kraft noted that the athletic department is “absorbing all of the costs associated with this.”
Terry Smith Wants the Team to Play with Effort and Get Back to the Standard
Terry Smith was asked what success means going forward this season with a mid-season firing for Penn State.
Smith noted that success means “the team pulling a rope in the same direction,” noting that he doesn’t want questions on player effort for the rest of the season. Smith wants Penn State to get back to the “standard” that Penn State has always had for the rest of the season. “I promise we are going to put a better product on the field,” Smith stated. Two immediate changes that Terry Smith wants to see is to get the defensive line in sync and work on winning at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
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No Other Staff Changes (Other than Cornerbacks Coach) For Now
Terry Smith noted that he will not make staffing changes immediately after taking over as interim head coach other than replacing himself as cornerbacks coach. Smith noted that Jordan Lucas will take over duties as the cornerbacks coach for the rest of the season.
In the press conference, Terry Smith noted he “had his work cut out” for him taking over for Franklin this season.
Smith stated “we’re just going to continue to press forward, we’re going to continue to recruit…one thing that doesn’t change, Penn State is Penn State.”
One thing is for sure, both Kraft and Smith have monumental tasks ahead of them in the coming weeks and months.
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