Two Penn State football coaches rumored for Group of 5 opening

This week has been a major positive in the Penn State football community. Hope has returned to State College once again after James Franklin has finally found his next offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas. But unfortunately, the offseason cannot be all sunshine and rainbows. The rumor mill must advance as the fast-changing coaching carousel could impact Penn State. Just last night the Nittany Lions were able to squash the rumor of strength and conditioning coach Chuck Losey leaving for Vanderbilt. Now, one of the top Group of 5 head coaching opportunities opened up at James Madison University this week. It appears not one but two Nittany Lion coaches have been rumored for the position Manny Diaz and Anthony Poindexter.

Two Penn State football coaches rumored for Group of 5 opening

Earlier this week, former James Madison head football coach Curt Cignetti decided to leave to become the next head coach at Indiana University. With Cignetti off to the Big Ten, the Dukes are searching for their next head coach. JMU is one of the top programs in the country especially in the Group of 5 ranks. In 2023 the Dukes had an impressive 11-1 record in the regular season in just their 2nd season at the FBS level.

Tonight, a new report broke from the Daily News Record as Shane Mettlen updated his story on the coaching search at JMU. Mettlen provided an update that said, “A private jet was scheduled to leave State College, Pa., Friday evening around 6 p.m. and arrive at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport at 6:50 p.m. The State College Regional Airport services the Penn State community, where both of the Nittany Lions co-defensive coordinators, Anthony Poindexter and Manny Diaz, have been mentioned as potential candidates for the JMU opening.”

Updated this one again: A plane on the way and another name interested in the JMU opening. https://t.co/IZDIdGtehr

— Shane Mettlen (@Shane_DNRSports) December 1, 2023

The interest level has been high surrounding Penn State football defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. It was reported earlier this week that Duke had interviewed Diaz to be their potential next head coach. Diaz spoke this summer about wanting to find the right job with the appropriate alignment.

Co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter was in the rumor mill when the University of Virginia head coaching job became available ahead of the 2022 season. Poindexter decided to stay at Penn State, but could a return to the Virginia area make sense for him this time? It’s not out of the question. At the very least James Franklin will continue to work on maintaining his staff as the offers continue to roll in.

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