REPORT: Penn State football among top programs interested in fast-rising OC candidate

Penn State football is one of the top programs interested in UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, new reports suggest. First reported by Jacob Davis of Sports Illustrated and Hawg Nation (Arkansas), James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are among the major Power 5 teams that have inquired about Marion’s services for its open offensive coordinator position. Marion has become one of the hottest names on the early coaching market after leading the Rebels to become one of the top units in the nation with his high-flying “Go-Go Offense” in 2023. The search for the next Penn State offensive coordinator is expected to pick up steam in the coming days following the end of the 2023 regular season.

Penn State football among top programs interested in Brennan Marion, per reports

Penn State football enters the third full week of its search for a new offensive coordinator after James Franklin fired Mike Yurcich on November 12. However, the search is expected to be expedited since Friday’s regular-season finale against Michigan State. Following the 42-0 win, Franklin expressed that he would be interviewing offensive coordinator candidates over the weekend via Zoom.

Now, new reports suggest one of the names who was possibly on that list of candidates. Late Sunday night, Jacob Davis of Sports Illustrated and Hawg Nation reported that Penn State joins Notre Dame and Oklahoma among the high-level Power 5 teams interested in UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. Marion is also rumored to be a candidate for the head coach openings at Houston, San Diego State, and Oregon State.

Notre Dame, Penn State and Oklahoma have joined Arkansas in the Brennan Marion Sweepstakes.

All three programs have inquired about the current UNLV OC’s services for respective OC openings.

As mentioned earlier, Marion is a finalist for the San Diego State job. Plus, receiving…

— Jacob Davis (@JacobScottDavis) November 27, 2023

Fast-rising offensive coordinator has ties to Pennsylvania

In his first season at UNLV, Marion put together one of the top offenses in the nation. The architect of the “Go-Go Offense,” the Rebels ranked in the top 25 of total touchdowns and points per game in 2023. UNLV also ranked in the top 5 for red zone scoring, 3rd down conversion, and rushing touchdowns.

Marion joined the Rebels staff this season after serving as the passing game coordinator at Texas in 2022. The UNLV offensive coordinator also previously served as the wide receivers coach at Pitt during Jordan Addison’s Biletnikoff Award-winning season in 2021.

Only 35 years old, Brennan Marion is a native of Greensburg in western Pennsylvania. He lettered at Greensburg Salem High School before playing for De Anza (junior college) and Tulsa at the college level. Marion has experience at the high school level in Pennsylvania, leading Waynesboro Area to its first winning season in 22 years and a Mid-Penn Colonial Division title in 2014.

Would Marion fit what James Franklin is looking for in the next Penn State offensive coordinator?

Last week, James Franklin spoke candidly about the qualities he was looking for in the next Penn State offensive coordinator. Among key indicators like explosive plays, third-down success rate, and early drive success, Franklin noted that finding someone with a data-driven track record is critical.

[We want] someone that’s done it long enough that you have a true indication,” Franklin said. “Because where you have to be careful is, somebody could have a special quarterback, or somebody could have a generational wide receiver, and it skews all the stats. That’s what makes it hard, right? So, that’s where the bigger sample size, the bigger body of work allows you to eliminate some of that risk and feel more confident in the decision.”

In addition, having someone Franklin and the coaching staff are familiar with is a plus. “That would also probably help if it’s somebody that you have a relationship with already, too,” he noted. “Because you’re not trying to figure that out, are they a cultural fit, too?”

Marion has succeeded at previous locations, although UNLV is his first opportunity as an offensive coordinator. While also having ties to the region, it’s unclear if Marion would meet the threshold that Franklin is looking for in either of these areas to be considered as the next Penn State offensive coordinator.

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