James Franklin got his guy. He’d had his eye on this Big 12 offensive coordinator for quite some time and had admired his work at multiple programs. Penn State’s head coach had decided his own offense needed a change, and this coach, Franklin decided, had the experience directing potent, explosive offenses that would translate to helping shove the Nittany Lions over that steep, elusive mountain peak separating good from great. The hire was widely praised and another example of Franklin’s enduring ability to recruit not only top players but sought-after coaches as well.
That guy, of course, was Mike Yurcich.
Three years later, Franklin made another change, and the Big 12 OC this time around is Andy Kotelnicki, from Kansas by way of Buffalo and the University of Mary, which is a real school in Division II. Once again, the credentials are impressive. Once again, the stakes are high, and once again, there is moldable talent in the barn, even if it appears the offensive line is headed for yet another rebuild.
