Overview of The Nittany Dispatch: A Penn State Football Podcast
This live episode (recorded day 52 of the coaching search, Dec. 3) walks through where Penn State’s head coach search stands after a chaotic stretch that included National Signing Day, a blown verbal agreement with BYU’s Kalani Sitake, a thin signing day haul, and growing fan frustration. Hosts John Sauber and Audrey Schneider break down the key developments, evaluate candidates, explain why the search has stalled, and outline what to watch next.
Key developments
- The “mystery candidate” the athletic department thought they had locked was BYU’s Kalani Sitake. Penn State believed it was essentially agreed verbally, but Sitake ultimately stayed at BYU — reportedly due to pressure/commitments at BYU, not a simple money issue.
- Signing day was poor for Penn State (only a couple of signees mentioned during the show), which compounds the urgency and frustration.
- Brian Daboll (NFL coach) has surfaced as a candidate. Hosts view him as a risky pick — an NFL lifer with limited recent college experience who would need to assemble largely new, high-level college staff.
- Terry Smith (interim HC) remains popular with players, but hosts think promoting him to permanent head coach without an AD change would be unlikely and risky.
- Pat Kraft (athletic director) is the one making the hiring decisions; trustees approve contracts but aren’t running the search. Kraft's job is not immediately in jeopardy, but outcomes will determine long-term security.
- Odd/side storyline: boxes of Crumbl cookies (BYU donor connection) became a social-media subplot around the search and James Franklin’s post-Penn State appearances.
Candidates discussed (high-level impressions)
- Kalani Sitake (BYU) — hosts thought he would have been an excellent hire (A / A-); geographic/religious fit concerns noted, but overall seen as a strong, outside-the-box choice.
- Brian Daboll (NFL) — hosts wary. Could be a bad/very hard sell to fans; lacks recent college head-coaching track record and would need to build an elite college staff.
- Matt Campbell — hosts’ preferred realistic long-term target; seen as a solid fit who could stabilize and modernize the program.
- Jeff Hafley, Tony Elliott, Manny Diaz, Bob Chesney, others — floated as possibilities; some considered viable, others unlikely fits.
- Younger NFL assistants/modern coordinators (e.g., Declan Doyle/TBD) — hosts suggested getting “weird” and considering energetic, modern candidates from the NFL/coordinator ranks.
- Fran Brown, Joe Brady, Chip Kelly, Brian Kelly, Dan Lanning, etc. — mentioned in chat/discussion; many were dismissed as unlikely, poor fits, or not pursued.
Major takeaways & implications
- The search has been messy and public failures (like Sitake staying at BYU) have amplified frustration. Public optics matter — fans see missed opportunities.
- It’s more important to get the hire right than to hurry. With National Signing Day passed, urgency to finish is reduced, so a longer, more deliberate process may be preferable.
- The hire profile Penn State wants: someone who can modernize roster construction (use the portal aggressively), navigate NIL/transfer dynamics, and win at a high level quickly. Alignment between AD and head coach on roster strategy is crucial.
- Promoting the interim coach (Terry Smith) would be seen as risky by hosts unless an AD change accompanies it; it could be viewed as a temporary/bridge move.
- If Penn State hires an NFL coach (Daboll), expect intense scrutiny on the staff hires and recruiting strategy — success would hinge on assembling experienced college staff.
Fans, players and administration — reactions & dynamics
- Players publicly like Terry Smith and have shown support; however, verbal player support doesn’t necessarily translate into retained commitments in the portal.
- Fans are frustrated and vocal on social media; media also increasingly covering leaks/rumors — amplifies pressure on the AD.
- Pat Kraft has made choices (no search firm/committee, direct handling) that some question; hosts stress that the AD was hired to make this decision and will be judged on the result. Trustees approve contracts but are not the search leads.
Timeline & what to watch next
- Status at recording: search ongoing (day 52). Hosts believe a hire could still happen quickly now that the coaching carousel is settling, but nothing is guaranteed.
- Things to watch:
- Any public hiring announcement (hosts predicted possibility of a hire before Christmas).
- Staff announcements — the head-coach hire’s assistants will show whether the hire can execute college recruiting/portal strategy.
- Portal movement and any recruiting flips (who commits/stays or enters portal in wake of the hire).
- Any changes in Penn State’s athletic leadership (AD status, trustee involvement) — would indicate second-order consequences.
- Bowl communications (Terry Smith availability/media comments) and whether Terry is retained on staff.
Notable quotes / insights from the episode
- “This thing is teetering on the brink of disaster.” — warning about the risk of a poor hire.
- “You fired James Franklin to upgrade this program. That move would absolutely not be an upgrade” (in reference to Daboll).
- “It’s not over yet” — cautious optimism that a right hire is still possible.
- “Hope of the unknown… the hope that kills you” — captures fan anxiety about prolonged uncertainty.
Quick FAQ (based on hosts’ assessment)
- Will Kalani Sitake come? No — Sitake stayed at BYU; Penn State thought they were close but were not able to complete the hire.
- Is Brian Daboll a good fit? Hosts are skeptical — risky without a strong college staff.
- Will Terry Smith be promoted? Unlikely unless there’s an AD change or a specific strategic reason; fans love him but the hosts see him as a risky permanent choice.
- Is Pat Kraft’s job in danger? Not immediately — he’s likely to remain through the hire and initial season results; long-term depends on outcomes.
- Was money or Adidas dictating the search? Hosts dismissed the Adidas narrative; they also said the Sitake flip was not a strictly financial decision.
- Should Penn State rush? Hosts recommend prioritizing the right hire over a fast hire.
Recommended next steps for readers/fans (what to watch & how to interpret)
- Watch announcements for head coach + immediate staff hires — staff reveals will make the hire’s strategy clear.
- Monitor recruiting updates/portal movement — early shifts will indicate whether new leadership stabilizes the roster.
- Look for signals about AD support and trustee involvement only if there are administrative shakeups — major changes would suggest deeper dissatisfaction with this search.
- If you’re a fan waiting for answers: the hosts counsel patience — better a correct hire than a quick, regrettable decision.
Closing context
The hosts repeatedly emphasized that Penn State remains a top-15 job but the search’s public missteps and the Sitake collapse have made this cycle unusually messy. Their final guidance: don’t panic; demand a competent hire; evaluate the decision in terms of staff construction and roster strategy (portal/NIL), not just the name.