STATE COLLEGE —
Bill O’Brien is staying at Penn State.
O’Brien’s agent, Joseph Linta, said Thursday night that the Nittany Lions’ head coach garnered interest from several NFL teams for vacant jobs at the next level.
But Linta said the “heartstrings” of O’Brien’s experience from Penn State’s 8-4 season in his first year outweighed the potentially big raise he could have received as an NFL head coach. He said O’Brien made the decision to stay at Penn State and not move forward with potential NFL opportunities Thursday.
O’Brien has been lauded for guiding Penn State to a successful season following strict NCAA sanctions for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
The decision wasn’t hard in the end, Linta said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “His loyalty to the team and those kids was a really strong bond ... Although he loves the NFL and loves coaching, the experience this year with those kids was the opportunity of a lifetime for him.”
O’Brien interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, and The Plain Dealer in Cleveland reported earlier Thursday night that O’Brien had interviewed with the Browns.
At least five teams reached out to O’Brien, but the discussions weren’t thought to have reached a serious level.
Linta declined to identify the teams showing interest in his client. He said there would probably be discussions about O’Brien’s current contract.
“The leverage he has at Penn State is his integrity,” Linta said.
O’Brien was in line to receive a $1.3 million raise to be funded by a private donor, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the person did not have authority to discuss the matter.
The bump in salary would increase O’Brien’s total compensation package to about $3.5 million. He signed a five-year deal at Penn State almost exactly a year ago, leaving a successful stint as the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator.
The NCAA penalties handed down in July triggered a clause in O’Brien’s contract that extends his deal the length of any sanctions handed down, so O’Brien’s deal now runs through 2020.
The sanctions include a four-year postseason ban that began with the 2012 season; and steep scholarship cuts which take effect with the 2013 recruiting class to be finalized next month.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Penn State fotball Coach Bill O'Brien watches Wyomissing play Aliquippa in the PIAA Class championship game last month. O'Brien will remain at Penn State after interviewing with two NFL teams this week.
Discussion
O'Brien not leaving Penn State
- Sports
-
-
H.S. baseball: Upper Dauphin loses in first round of District 3 playoffs
By The Daily Item CAMP HILL -- It was like deja vu all over again for the Upper Dauphin High baseball team as the District 3 Class AA playoffs got underway on Monday.
-
Professional basketball: Bucknell's Muscala writes in his 'Draft Diary' about NBA journey
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is Mike Muscala's own account of his journey to the NBA through the league's "Draft Diary." Please visit the NBA's "All Ball Blog" at "http://allball.blogs.nba.com/category/draft-diaries/" to read more on Muscala and other NBA rookie hopefuls.
-
H.S. track and field: Selinsgrove senior battles through injury to help Seal girls win gold
By Eric Shultz For The Daily Item For a while, it seemed as if an abundance of hard work had just gone down the drain.
-
College notebook: Bucknell narrowly wins Patriot League President's Cup
By The Daily Item It was not easy, but Bucknell added another Patriot League President's Cup to its name, extending its conference dominance in 2012-13.
-
High school sports: Valley teams gear up for postseason
Nine softball teams, six baseball squads eye district titles
-
Bob Garrett's No Child Left Indoors series: Just let wild animals be
A quick guide on what to do if and when you or a family member encounters a baby animal in the wild.
-
Boys track and field: Wary performance at districts
Shikellamy junior collects three individual Class AAA gold medals
-
H.S. girls track: Shikellamy relay turns disappointment into triumph in district meet
Sometimes disappointment can be a great motivating factor as half of the Shikellamy girls 1600 relay found out on Saturday afternoon at the District 4 Track and Field meet at Susquehanna University.
-
H.S. softball: Fifth-inning rally propels Midd-West past Shikellamy
By Anthony Mitchell For The Daily Item MIDDLEBURG -- The fifth inning has been Shikellamy's Achilles heel all season long according to Braves coach Heidi Kerchoff.
-
H.S. track and field: Selinsgrove senior jumper Lockcuff fighting through an injury
SELINSGROVE " As an athlete, working through an injury while trying to reach the top level of your sport can have the coaches and the athlete walking a tightrope.
-
Harold Raker's high school track & field column: Numbers game at District 4 meet
As you enjoy your morning coffee, or tea, this morning, athletes from as close as Shamokin and East Juniata to as far away as Athens and Sayre are warming up at Susquehanna University for what many of them hope will be the next to last weekend of track and field for the 2013 season.
-
High School Roundup: Defenders earn top seed for playoffs
The Warrior Run Defenders are all geared up and ready for the District 4 Class AA playoffs after they routed nonleague foe Muncy 13-0 in their regular season finale on Thursday.
-
High School Boys Lacrosse: Seals dominate Wildcats
Sometimes in sports, there are teams that you know are dominant after taking one look at them.
-
High School Girls Lacrosse: Danville, Lewisburg advance to final
A top seed is supposed to hold its ground and take care of business against a higher team.
-
High School Baseball: Braves' postseason hopes end
It was a tall order for sure, having to beat three district qualifiers in four days to make the playoffs.
-
Motorsports: Andy Haus keeps family tradition alive
The year that Andy Haus was born, 1986, his legendary father, Scott Haus, had finished sixth in the Selinsgrove Speedway 410 sprint car point standings. In his sixth year of racing and third in the late model, Andy Haus is still keeping the family name in the Selinsgrove record books.
- More Sports Headlines
-
H.S. baseball: Upper Dauphin loses in first round of District 3 playoffs
