Penn State coaching search heats up, Bob Chesney makes surprise move toward UCLA while mystery candidate remains hidden

Penn State’s coaching search has heated up significantly as mysterious candidates continue to emerge and multiple coaches position themselves for other opportunities. With the regular season now officially over following Penn State’s 40-36 victory over Rutgers on November 29, 2025, Athletic Director Pat Kraft has kept the search remarkably tight-lipped even as other programs move swiftly to fill their vacancies. The biggest bombshell involves James Madison head coach Bob Chesney, who appears to be moving away from Penn State’s grasp toward the UCLA job.

Bob Chesney’s Move Toward UCLA Changes the Board

According to reporting from CBSSports on November 30, James Madison head coach Bob Chesney has become a “top person of interest” for the UCLA head coaching job. The 48-year-old Pennsylvania native from Kulpmont has built an impressive coaching record at every level, compiling a 20-5 record across his two seasons at James Madison.

Chesney’s success spans multiple divisions: he went 23-9 at Slave Regina (Division III), 44-16 at Assumption (Division II), and 44-21 at Holy Cross (FCS) before arriving at James Madison where he’s led the Dukes to an 11-1 record this season with an 8-0 conference mark. Penn State insiders had previously pegged Chesney as a potential front-runner for the Nittany Lions job, but UCLA appears to be turning up the heat on his recruitment.

Candidate	Current Status	Penn State Availability
Bob Chesney	UCLA top target	Likely off board
Kalen DeBoer	Alabama (SEC CG bound)	Unlikely available
Eli Drinkwitz	Missouri extended contract	Off board
Lincoln Riley	USC head coach	Candidate

The Mystery Candidate Question Remains Unanswered

One week prior to this reporting, Penn State player Adam Breneman tweeted that a “big name coach” was involved in the Penn State search who hadn’t been mentioned by media sources. This sparked extensive speculation among insiders and fans about who this “mystery candidate” could be.

Josh Pate fueled the conversation further by suggesting there was substance to this mysterious possibility. However, reporting has been flimsy at best, with names like Kalani Sitake (BYU) and Lincoln Riley (USC) being discussed without concrete evidence. The mystery persists as Penn State appears to be considering options beyond the typical high-profile names dominating the coaching carousel.

Kalen DeBoer and Alabama’s Impact on Penn State’s Pursuit

Penn State had reportedly targeted Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer for quite some time. The scenario had been laid out weeks ago: if Alabama missed the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive year, DeBoer might look for an exit ramp and Penn State would be “right there waiting with open arms.”

However, that plan evaporated when Alabama defeated Auburn 27-20 in the Iron Bowl on Saturday night. With the victory, the Crimson Tide are now headed to the SEC Championship game to face Georgia and are almost assuredly locked into a CFP spot. Multiple insiders acknowledge fans can “safely assume that KDB is staying in Tuscaloosa for another season.”

Other Notable Candidates Off the Board

Eli Drinkwitz signed an extension with Missouri, officially taking him out of consideration for Penn State along with open positions at LSU, Florida, and Auburn. Terry Smith, Penn State’s interim head coach, interviewed for the position earlier in the week and has a higher viability than some expected, though insiders would be “stunned if he’s the pick.”

Other names remained in play: Brent Key and Jeff Brohm haven’t signed contract extensions, making them potential targets, though such moves don’t necessarily indicate coaching availability. Bobby Engram, a Penn State great currently serving as Washington Commanders wide receivers coach, interviewed for the position, though most expect Penn State to land the job before Engram receives serious consideration.

Where Does Penn State Go From Here If Chesney Leaves?

If Bob Chesney takes the UCLA job and Kalen DeBoer remains at Alabama, Penn State faces significant constraints on its coaching options. The program must quickly pivot to remaining candidates while other schools like Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and LSU have already announced their coaching hires in recent days. Pat Kraft has maintained strict confidentiality about the search process, keeping “a lid on this thing from the jump” despite the competitive coaching marketplace.

“Lots of names for sure, but really very few consistent names that have been involved over time.”

— Black Shoe Diaries, Penn State coaching search analysis, November 30, 2025

Sources

• Black Shoe Diaries – Comprehensive Penn State coaching search news and notes coverage (November 30, 2025)
• Nittany Sports Now – Bob Chesney UCLA coaching interest reporting (November 30, 2025)
• CBSSports/Matt Zenitz – James Madison coach Bob Chesney UCLA confirmation (November 30, 2025)