Penn State: a football coaching history
See Penn State’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2025
Terry Smith Short tenure
No outlier style signal this stint
4-3
2014–2025
James Franklin Steady
James Franklin moved Penn State from Power Program II to Power Program I in 12 seasons.
2023 defense ranked in the 98th percentile nationally — elite
+8.0 pts over 12 seasons · bottom 33% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Mike Riley’s Oregon State run (1997–1998, 2003–2014)
2nd-best Penn State tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Bill O'Brien (2012–2013) · succeeded by Terry Smith (2025).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||
| Record | 7-6 | 7-6 | 11-3 | 11-2 | 9-4 | 11-2 | 4-5 | 7-6 | 11-2 | 10-3 | 13-3 | 3-3 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | — | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | CFP loss | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #24 | #14 | #20 | #15 | #6 | #12 | #15 | #21 | #6 | #14 | #15 | #15 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||
| Pass rate | 52.4 | 48.7 | 42.0 | 50.4 | 42.3 | 41.7 | 43.2 | 52.7 | 46.3 | 44.4 | 41.6 | 41.6 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||||||||
| OC | John Donovan | John Donovan | Joe Moorhead | Joe Moorhead | Ricky Rahne | Ricky Rahne | Kirk Ciarrocca / Tyler Bowen | Mike Yurcich | Mike Yurcich | Ja'Juan Seider / Mike Yurcich / Ty Howle | Andy Kotelnicki / Ja'Juan Seider / Ty Howle | Andy Kotelnicki / Ty Howle | |
| DC | Bob Shoop | Bob Shoop | Brent Pry / Tim Banks | Brent Pry / Tim Banks | Brent Pry / Tim Banks | Brent Pry / Tim Banks | Brent Pry / Tim Banks | Brent Pry / Anthony Poindexter | Manny Diaz / Anthony Poindexter | Manny Diaz / Anthony Poindexter | Tom Allen / Anthony Poindexter | Jim Knowles / Anthony Poindexter | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||
| Offense | 4 | 31 | 92 | 94 | 50 | 78 | 64 | 25 | 80 | 85 | 97 | 85 | |
| Defense | 97 | 63 | 68 | 62 | 85 | 73 | 75 | 95 | 97 | 98 | 98 | 74 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 53.4 | 47.1 | 38.0 | 46.0 | 45.4 | 37.0 | 39.4 | 48.8 | 39.3 | 41.1 | 39.0 | 41.3 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 46.7 | 54.4 | 37.5 | 41.4 | 29.8 | 29.3 | 40.2 | 60.0 | 40.0 | 43.9 | 38.5 | 26.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 14.0 | 22.9 | 25.5 | 28.2 | 25.5 | 31.7 | 50.0 | 38.0 | 46.2 | 38.9 | 40.5 | 50.0 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
+7.1 pts
#73 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+18.1 pts
#37 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Portal arrivals
29
3.2★ avg rating
Portal departures
72
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-43
#161 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′1″, 230 lbs
across 22 of 29 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+5.2 lbs
#95 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
Jr
#5 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: PA (5), MD (3), NJ (3), GA (2), AL (2)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
52.9
position-weighted
Talent lost
62.2
position-weighted
Net
-9.3
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: A.J. Harris (CB) from Georgia
Biggest loss: Beau Pribula (QB) to Missouri
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: John Donovan → Joe Moorhead · 2016The offense leveled up
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 50.2% → 42.0% (-8.3 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 65% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Joe Moorhead → Ricky Rahne · 2018The offense collapsed across the change
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 42.0% → 41.2% (-0.8 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 59% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Ricky Rahne → Kirk Ciarrocca / Tyler Bowen (co) · 2020
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 37.0% → 39.4% (+2.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 79% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Kirk Ciarrocca / Tyler Bowen (co) → Mike Yurcich · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 39.4% → 48.8% (+9.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 84% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Bob Shoop → Brent Pry / Tim Banks (co) · 2016The defense slipped
2-season window either side.
DC: Brent Pry / Tim Banks (co) → Brent Pry / Anthony Poindexter (co) · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Brent Pry / Anthony Poindexter (co) → Manny Diaz / Anthony Poindexter (co) · 2022
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Manny Diaz / Anthony Poindexter (co) → Tom Allen / Anthony Poindexter (co) · 2024
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
222 lbs
6′3″ avg · #133 of 767 · top quarter
Running back
217 lbs
5′11″ avg · #104 of 791 · top quarter
Wide receiver
196 lbs
6′0″ avg · #261 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
255 lbs
6′5″ avg · #68 of 731 · top quarter
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
316 lbs
6′5″ avg · #118 of 779 · top quarter
D-line
299 lbs
6′3″ avg · #112 of 753 · top quarter
Edge
257 lbs
6′4″ avg · #77 of 188 · middle half
Linebacker
231 lbs
6′2″ avg · #249 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
190 lbs
6′0″ avg · #395 of 771 · middle half
Safety
202 lbs
6′1″ avg · #62 of 346 · top quarter
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Punter from high school
75%
#28 of 29 stints
Grows Kicker from high school
83%
#52 of 56 stints
Postseason detail2014: Beat Boston College 31-30 New Era Pinstripe Bowl2015: Lost to Georgia 17-24 Taxslayer Bowl2016: Lost to USC 49-52 Rose Bowl Game Pres. By Northwestern Mutual2017: Beat Washington 35-28 Bowl2018: Lost to Kentucky 24-27 Vrbo Citrus Bowl2019: Beat Memphis 53-39 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic2021: Lost to Arkansas 10-24 Outback Bowl2022: Beat Utah 35-21 Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential2023: Lost to Ole Miss 25-38 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl2024: Beat SMU 38-10 College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate2024: Beat Boise State 31-14 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl2024: Lost to Notre Dame 24-27 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl
67 NFL Draft picks: Donovan Smith (2015), Adrian Amos (2015), Jesse James (2015), Austin Johnson (2016), Christian Hackenberg (2016), Carl Nassib (2016), Anthony Zettel (2016), Jordan Lucas (2016) + 59 more
6 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Carl Nassib (2015), Jaquan Brisker (2021), Olu Fashanu (2023), Abdul Carter (2024), Tyler Warren (2024), Olaivavega Ioane (2025)
AI Narratives — “Penn State's 2025: Resilience Amid Transition” and 15 more on the team page.
+8.0
104-45
1966–2011
Joe Paterno Transformer
Joe Paterno took Penn State from Power Program II to Blue Blood.
2004 offense ranked in the 2th percentile nationally — historically bad
+25.2 pts over 46 seasons · top 16% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Gary Patterson’s TCU run (2000–2021)
1st-best Penn State tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Rip Engle (1950–1965) · succeeded by Bill O'Brien (2012–2013).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Record | 5-5 | 8-2-1 | 11-0 | 11-0 | 7-3 | 11-1 | 10-2 | 12-0 | 10-2 | 9-3 | 7-5 | 11-1 | 11-1 | 8-4 | 10-2 | 10-2 | 11-1 | 8-4-1 | 6-5 | 11-1 | 12-0 | 8-4 | 5-6 | 8-3-1 | 9-3 | 11-2 | 7-5 | 10-2 | 12-0 | 9-3 | 11-2 | 9-3 | 9-3 | 10-3 | 5-7 | 5-6 | 9-4 | 3-9 | 4-7 | 11-1 | 9-4 | 9-4 | 11-2 | 11-2 | 7-6 | 8-1 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | — | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | — | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | — | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | — | — | L bowl | — | — | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | #13 | #25 | #7 | #39 | #40 | #19 | #13 | #31 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50.2 | 39.7 | 48.1 | 44.0 | 42.8 | 45.9 | 48.7 | 42.2 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 64 | 31 | 79 | 89 | 63 | 44 | 12 | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | 97 | 80 | 53 | 52 | 76 | 57 | 70 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 44.8 | 40.6 | 41.5 | 48.1 | 43.0 | 48.1 | 43.1 | 38.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43.8 | 23.7 | 42.2 | 40.0 | 36.1 | 37.6 | 35.6 | 35.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 33.3 | 11.8 | 21.8 | 19.1 | 17.1 | 7.3 | 28.9 | 24.5 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Kicker from high school
100%
#52 of 56 stints
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Postseason detail1971: Beat Texas 30-6 Bowl1972: Lost to Oklahoma 0-14 Bowl1973: Beat LSU 16-9 Bowl1974: Beat Baylor 41-20 Bowl1975: Lost to Alabama 6-13 Bowl1976: Lost to Notre Dame 9-20 Bowl1977: Beat Arizona State 42-30 Bowl1978: Lost to Alabama 7-14 Bowl1979: Beat Tulane 9-6 Bowl1980: Beat Ohio State 31-19 Bowl1981: Beat USC 26-10 Bowl1982: Beat Georgia 27-23 Bowl1983: Beat Washington 13-10 Bowl1985: Lost to Oklahoma 10-25 Bowl1986: Beat Miami 14-10 Bowl1987: Lost to Clemson 10-35 Bowl1989: Beat BYU 50-39 Bowl1990: Lost to Florida State 17-24 Bowl1991: Beat Tennessee 42-17 Bowl1992: Lost to Stanford 3-24 Bowl1993: Beat Tennessee 31-13 Bowl1994: Beat Oregon 38-20 Bowl1995: Beat Auburn 43-14 Bowl1996: Beat Texas 38-15 Bowl1997: Lost to Florida 6-21 Bowl1998: Beat Kentucky 26-14 Bowl1999: Beat Texas A&M 24-0 Bowl2002: Lost to Auburn 9-13 Capital One Bowl2005: Beat Florida State 26-23 FedEx Orange Bowl2006: Beat Tennessee 20-10 Outback Bowl At Tampa Fl2007: Beat Texas A&M 24-17 Bowl2008: Lost to USC 24-38 The Rose Bowl Game Presented By Citi2009: Beat LSU 19-17 Capital One Bowl2010: Lost to Florida 24-37 Outback Bowl2011: Lost to Houston 14-30 Ticketcity Bowl
184 NFL Draft picks: David Rowe (1967), Richard Buzin (1968), William Lenkaitis (1968), Mike McBath (1968), Ted Kwalick (1969), Dave Bradley (1969), Bob Campbell (1969), John Kulka (1969) + 176 more
+25.2
409-136-3
1950–1965
Rip Engle Steady≈
Rip Engle moved Penn State from Power Program III to Power Program II in 16 seasons.
+10.2 pts over 16 seasons · bottom 40% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Bronco Mendenhall’s BYU run (2005–2015)
3rd-best Penn State tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Joe Bedenk (1949) · succeeded by Joe Paterno (1966–2011).
+10.2
104-48-4
1949
Joe Bedenk Short tenure
5-4
1936–1948
Bob Higgins Steady
Bob Higgins held Penn State at Power Program III for 13 seasons.
4th-best Penn State tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Joe Bedenk (1949).
Power Program III
73-29-8