Penn State and Golden: What we know
Will he or won't he?
That's the question Saturday night as Penn State continues its pursuit of its 16th head coach in the football program's history.
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According to reports by Blue White Illustrated publisher Phil Grosz through the day Saturday and CaneSport.com, sources close to Miami head coach Al Golden confirmed that an agreement in principle has been reached between Golden and Penn State.
Though the contractual details are reportedly being worked out between the two parties, the expectation remains that Golden and the university will come to a finalized agreement in the near future. Additionally, Grosz reported, he does not expect a formal announcement regarding this matter to take place before Monday.
While some national media outlets were unable to confirm the report through the day on Saturday, instead saying that Penn State was continuing to interview candidates including Vanderbilt's James Franklin and fired Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak, Grosz is unable to confirm those reports at this time.
Early Saturday night, a Twitter report by Miami Herald beat reporter Susan Miller Degnan read as follows:
"We (Miami Herald) have reached UM President Donna Shalala by email. Short & sweet re. Al Golden: 'We don't know anything yet.'"
Additionally, according to a report by Miami Sun-Sentinel reporter Christy Cabrera Chirinos, Miami athletic director Blake James said Golden currently remains the Hurricanes' head coach.
"Al and I are in regular communication. He is our football coach and I believe he will be our coach going forward," James said via text message to the Sun-Sentinel.
Should Golden and Penn State agree to the finalized terms, he would return to his alma mater following a FBS coaching career that has spanned eight seasons at both Temple and, most recently, Miami.
Finishing the 2013 season with a 9-4 overall record, Golden helped guide the Hurricanes to a second-place finish in the Coastal Division of the ACC, capped by a 36-9 loss to No. 18-ranked Louisville in the Russell Athletic Bowl in December. In his first two seasons in Miami, excluded from postseason play due to Miami's self-inflicted bowl ban, the Hurricanes were able to improve from 6-6 to 7-5, including a tie for first place finish in the Coastal Division of the ACC.
Golden's career breakout began in Philadelphia with the Temple Owls, however.
Taking control of a program that was a perennial doormat in the Big East, Golden started with a 1-11 overall season as the team was an FBS independent. From there, he helped guide the Owls to 4-8, 5-7, 9-4 and 8-4 seasons in the Mid-American Conference during the 2007 through 2010 seasons, respectively, including a tied first-place finish in the East Division during the 2009 season.
In total, Golden has a 49-49 overall record in his two previous coaching stops.
Blue White Illustrated will continue to monitor this story as it develops.