Penn State Coaching Delay Tied to Serious Conflict: Report

By Matt Audilet

Contributing Sports Writer

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After a whirlwind of coaching carousel news this past weekend, the Penn State Nittany Lions remain as one of the only high-profile college football program's without a head coaching replacement.

LSU, Ole Miss, Florida, Auburn and several other prominent programs filled their head coaching vacancies, but Penn State is still without its next program leader for 2026 and beyond.

Penn State fired longtime head coach James Franklin after a 3-3 start to the 2025 season. Franklin has since landed a new head coaching gig with the Virginia Tech Hokies, while the Nittany Lions enter yet another week without a replacement.

During Monday's episode of "The McShay Show," college football insider Todd McShay suggested that the delay in Penn State's coaching search could stem from a serious conflict between Nittany Lions athletic director Patrick Kraft and prominent agent Jimmy Sexton.

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Sexton represents many of the top coaching talents in college football, including Franklin.

The CAA agent was reportedly displeased by the abrupt nature of Franklin's dismissal on Oct. 12, leading to a rift between him and Kraft.

“Jimmy Sexton, as I mentioned, is the most powerful man in college sports and is orchestrating a lot of this stuff,” McShay said. "I mentioned James Franklin is a client of his, right? It left a bad taste in the mouth of Jimmy Sexton. Not a good idea.”

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Sexton also represents one of Penn State's rumored coaching targets, JMU head coach Bob Chesney.

Despite reported interest from the Nittany Lions, Chesney is expected to sign a five-year contract with the UCLA Bruins after his ongoing postseason run with the Dukes.

“Chesney was a Sexton client," McShay added. "... There might have been a flight where Kraft was called mid-flight to go see Chesney, and (Sexton) told him, ‘Let’s not do that. Chesney is going to UCLA.'"

Penn State is now reportedly focused on BYU head coach Kalani Sitake as its top target.

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