Penn State Expected to Announce Bill O'Brien as New Coach on Saturday

By Kris Coombs, Christian Post Contributor Friday, January 06, 2012

New England Patriots' offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is expected to be announced Penn State’s next head coach on Saturday, FOX Sports reports.

O'Brien interviewed at Penn State on Thursday, FOX Sports reports, and is also said to have an interview with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend.

According to the Boston Herald, O'Brien told NFL officials on Thursday that he agreed to take the Penn State position, although his agent said earlier this week that O’Brien was more focused on a head coaching job in the NFL.

"We will comment when we name the new coach," Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson responded in a text to a question from bwi.rivals.com, FOX reported.

Tom Bradley, former defensive coordinator, has been the acting head coach at Penn State since long-time coach Joe Paterno was fired in November for mishandling accusations on alleged molester and fellow former coach Jerry Sandusky.

But not everyone is pleased with the soon-to-be coach.

"There is a tangible standard at Penn State that this poor guy (O'Brien) knows nothing about," ex-linebacker Brandon Short told USA Today. "I feel badly for him because he is clueless and will not have the support of the majority of the Lettermen. This is a hornet's nest for him."

Short also told the newspaper that some members of Penn State’s Football Lettermen's Club, which assists the school in recruitment, have an upcoming meeting with the school's temporary athletic director Dave Joyner.

O’Brien will continue to serve as the offensive coordinator for the Patriots through the playoffs, ESPN reported.

Terms of the Penn State deal have not been released and the University has not publicly confirmed O’Brien as its new coach.