Penn State Scandal: Why Choice of New Head Coach Is Most Vital in School History

Ohio State has hired its next head man to lead the Buckeyes after a scandal rocked their campus, according to ESPN. Now Penn State must do the same, but far more must be considered when making its choice.

This cleanup job is about more than football and academic integrity. This reclamation project is like no other—it is about restoring a moral ideal.

A carefully selected panel of Penn State's remaining dignitaries comprise a group that is charged with making this critical selection. This is the biggest decision the program and perhaps the school will make in its history.

In this day and age of media, perception is still as important as it always has been, but now perception is at the tip of the swift judgment that follows breaking news. Despite the fact that the football program is only one aspect of the university, the program and its troubles are the most dominating subject of the school's current notoriety.

That fact can only have a negative effect on the institution overall.

So, the person chosen to lead Penn State football out of this era must be a public relations wizard. They must be transparent, thoughtful and about more than just football.

It is obvious, there is an imbalance in the culture in State College. Somewhere along the line, the line between football and real life got blurred. The next head coach must go out of his way to show the community and the nation that his priorities are straight; it must be clear that Penn State football takes a backseat to decency and ethical behavior extending beyond the field and the classroom, but also into the consciousness of those in charge.

The Nittany Lions must make a clean break from everything connected to the Joe Paterno era. They must resist the urge to hire a former player who played for Paterno or a former assistant. Unfortunately, that includes current interim coach Tom Bradley.

They need a clean slate. For that reason, though it may be unfair, no one that has been muddied by this scandal should be considered—even if their soiling was inadvertent.

It is time for Penn State to pick up the pieces and move on. This crucial decision is the next and biggest step.