Penn State should take biggest swing on Nick…
Don’t count on Nick Saban to return to teaching school soccer anytime soon, but that shouldn’t stop Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft from reaching out to the legendary former Alabama coach about the vacant job with the Nittany Lions, soccer analyst Joel Klatt believes.
Penn State is in need of a new head soccer coach after it fired James Franklin following a third straight loss last weekend, with the season taking a major downward flip.
Nick Saban is honored with a ceremony dedicating the sphere in his identify during the halftime break of Alabama’s 42-16 blowout win over South Florida at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 7, 2024 in Tuscaloosa. Getty Images
Klatt, showing on “The Heard with Colin Cowherd” on Wednesday, admitted it was a long shot, but said that Kraft should take “start with the biggest swing possible” in the teaching search.
“Well, I think that Pat Kraft, the athletic director at Penn State, is going to take a big swing,” Klatt said. “I don’t think that anybody is off of his list, to be quite honest with you. And if I was Pat Kraft, I would start with the biggest swing possible. I know this sounds crazy, but I think the first call I would make is Nick Saban. Just make sure that that’s not going to happen.”
“If I was Pat Kraft, I would start with the biggest swing possible. I know this sounds crazy, but I think the first call I would make is Nick Saban.” – Joel Klatt on Penn State’s teaching search pic.twitter.com/eKdoQx7zyD— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 15, 2025
Saban has continually shot down rumors of a potential return, and during a “Fox & Friends” interview in July, the former Crimson Tide coach said there was “no opportunity” that would “entice me” to return to teaching.
In his post-coaching profession, Saban has discovered a home on ESPN as a school soccer analyst and is an adviser for Alabama.
Head coach James Franklin reacts after a play during Penn State’s home loss to Northwestern on Oct. 11, 2025 in State College, Pa. He was fired by the varsity a day later. Getty Images
For now, Terry Smith is serving as the interim head coach for the Nittany Lions, and whoever is employed to be the everlasting alternative for Franklin could have some lofty targets to obtain.
Kraft told reporters after the firing that the varsity is eyeing somebody who can “maximize elite-level resources, attack the transfer portal and develop at the highest level.”
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