Penn State: Mike Munchak's Desire to 'Fix' Penn State Means PSU Should Stay Away

Mike Munchak put rumors that he was interested in Penn State’s head coaching position to rest when he said this: "They have not contacted me in any way or talked to me about the possibility of working there. I have not reached out to them. I have a job that I enjoy quite a bit."

For some reason, though, it seems like Mike Munchak is once again interested in being the head coach of his alma mater in a recent report made by ESPN that quoted a source close to him saying ”Mike is struggling with the concept of being able to fix and make right his alma mater.”

The fact that Munchak is still even entertaining the thought of leaving Tennessee for the head coaching position at Penn State shows that there is still some interest that exists with Penn State hiring Mike Munchak.

While it is undoubtedly admirable that Munchak wants to “fix and make right” what is alleged to have transpired at Penn State, it raises concern for where his focus is when it comes to becoming the next head coach at Penn State.

I know I might be reading into this, but by Munchak saying he wants to fix and make right things for his alma mater, he is ultimately saying that the pressure of “fixing the university” falls squarely on the shoulders of the head coach. 

In reality, the responsibility to change things at the university and restore Penn State’s image is the responsibility of all "Penn Staters"; alumni, current students, boosters, coaches and administration alike have a responsibility to help return Penn State to its former greatness.

If Munchak thinks he could change image of Penn State University and the Nittany Lions football program single-handedly, he is setting himself up for failure. 

It is possible to be overly passionate about something, to the point where the passion becomes an obstacle to realistically accomplishing goals, and that is the danger that Penn State must realize if they consider bringing in Munchak or any other Penn State alumni.

Speaking as a Penn State graduate, class of 2008, I find it hard to separate my love and appreciation for Penn State as a university with the reality of the consequences that Penn State is facing.  I think that is something that Mike Munchak, as a former Penn State football player, has to be experiencing as well. 

Munchak’s passion to repair and restore Penn State is admirable, but if not viewed in a realistic light, that passion could be a hindrance to him.

Penn State needs a head coach who can view the entirety of the situation transpiring at Penn State through an unbiased and authentically realistic perspective, and they can’t find that in Mike Munchak.

The main reason for bringing Munchak to Penn State isn’t his proven ability to win as a head coach, with his lone season as head coach of the Tennessee Titans ending at best with a 9-7 record overall. 

While that isn’t necessarily bad, it’s not the reason why Penn State is reportedly interested in him.  Penn State’s interest stems from the fact that Munchak is passionate about what Penn State stands for, the image of the university and the opportunity of restoring integrity to Penn State’s football program.

There’s nothing wrong with that, but it absolutely isn’t what Penn State needs right now. 

Penn State needs a head coach that has no ties to the university, no previous history with the football program and most of all, a coach who has a realistic understanding of what lies ahead for the football program at Penn State.

Penn state needs to stay away from Mike Munchak, not because he’s not a good coach, but because it will be too hard for him to separate his passion for Penn State from his duties as the leader of a battered and bruised football program.