Joe Paterno Retiring: Who Will Replace Legendary Coach?

Joe Paterno is finally going to relinquish the reins of the Penn State Nittany Lions after 46 years of being the face and definition of their historic football program.  

It’s extremely sad and tough to believe that the Jerry Sandusky scandal is what finally forces him to retire at the end of the 2011 season, but the past can’t be undone and the program needs to forge on without their iconic leader.

It’s going to be extremely rough over the next few years for the Nittany Lions to shed the shame now cast down on the school because of one disgusting individual's actions and the few heartless men that decided to keep it internal rather than report it to authorities.

The head-coaching job at Penn State was once considered highly prestigious and it would be an honor to take over after the legendary Joe Pa, but now it is a caustic and volatile position that will take a man of fortitude, courage and patience to handle.

Here are some candidates who may have the stuff to right this sinking ship and restore the program to its former glory.

Urban Meyer

Meyer is the most obvious and high-profile candidate for the job. He is only 47 years old and has found success at every single school he has helmed.

In his ten years as a head coach, Meyer has a record of 104-23 and a bowl record of 7-1 with two national championships and two conference championships.

That is simply incredible. There is no better person on earth to coach this program who is currently available.

He also recently bought property within spitting distance of State College, PA.

Would Meyer want this job? I don’t think so.

He retired after beating Penn State in the 2011 Outback Bowl in January of this year to spend more time with his family after having medical problems.

This job would be the most stressful one of his career but as a practicing Roman Catholic, Meyer has the morality and trustworthiness to turn the program around.

It will be interesting to see over the next few months how he feels about the job.

Let’s take a quick look at some other viable candidates.

Greg Schiano

Schiano joined Rutgers in 2001 and turned arguably the worst D-I program in the nation into a perennial bowl team and has ties to Penn State as their secondary coach in the early 1990s.

Pat Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald has done a ton with the subpar talent he has at Northwestern. That program struggles to get highly touted recruits but Fitzgerald can work magic with the kids he gets.

Penn State will be certainly hurting for good recruits to join the program so a guy like Fitzgerald would keep them relevant through the lean years ahead.

Chris Petersen

Petersen has unparalleled success with Boise State and has turned that program into a regular BCS bowl contender.

He deserves a chance with a major program and his unorthodox style and ability to work magic with his teams would be a great asset for Penn State right now.