Penn State’s leader, now in his 12th season in State College, must decide on his defensive coordinator for 2025. Tom Allen left to take the Clemson DC job. Franklin’s next hire will be his fifth full-time DC at Penn State.

As Franklin said before hiring Allen last year, Penn State's defense is not in rebuild mode. The program is about winning now, which the returns of Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have foreshadowed. Franklin is chasing hardware next season, and the defensive coordinator hire will reflect that.

James Franklin must hire a new defensive coordinator for the third time in four years. Here are seven potential candidates

Penn State’s defensive coordinator position remains open as of early Wednesday afternoon. James Franklin must replace Tom Allen, the former Indiana head coach who spent one season with the Nittany Lions before taking the Clemson defensive coordinator job earlier this week.