The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Penn State: a football coaching history

Power Program I#11 of 138–
See Penn State’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches
Program GOAT
Joe Paterno
0 Dynasty · 16 Blue-Blood seasons
Built by
Joe Paterno
Power Program II → Blue Blood (+25.2)
The fall
Rip Engle
Power Program III → Power Program II (−6.3)
Right now
Matt Campbell
in year 1 — too new to place in Penn State's history

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)HigginsEnglePaternoFranklin19401960198020002020

Every coach

2026–now
Matt Campbellshort tenure
0–0
2025–2025
Terry Smithshort tenure
4–3
2014–now
James Franklincaretaker
James Franklin moved Penn State from Power Program II to Power Program I in 12 seasons.
Power Program I
104–45
2012–2013
Bill O'Brienshort tenure
15–9
1966–2011
Joe Paternotransformer
Joe Paterno took Penn State from Power Program II to Blue Blood.
+25.2
409–136
1950–1965
Rip Englecaretaker
Rip Engle moved Penn State from Power Program III to Power Program II in 16 seasons.
+10.2
104–48
1949–1949
Joe Bedenkshort tenure
5–4
1936–1948
Bob Higginscaretaker
Bob Higgins held Penn State at Power Program III for 13 seasons.
Power Program III
73–29