Penn State quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien expected to follow James Franklin to Virginia Tech, report says

Penn State quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien is expected to leave the program at the end of the season to head to Virginia Tech, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. The move is not a surprise. That is especially true after On3’s Pete Nakos broke the news earlier Tuesday that current Nittany Lions co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ty Howle will be James Franklin’s offensive coordinator with the Hokies.

O’Brien, who will be the new quarterbacks coach in Blacksburg, and Franklin have long had a close relationship. The latter coached the former at Maryland. After a brief pro career, the former joined the Penn State coaching staff as an analyst in 2021. He was elevated to his current role in 2024. However, he had a big impact on the quarterbacks in 2023, as well.

“It’s been very emotional,” O’Brien said in November when asked what life was like in State College after Franklin was fired in mid-October. “I’ve taken this as an opportunity to help guide these kids who have not been through something like this. It’s how to focus on being present and focused on the mission at hand, and tune out the stuff. There’s the things you can control and matter. The things that are both is what we’re going to focus on. And I look at it as a coach, it’s my job to get them ready and help navigate the emotions everyone is going through right now.

“Truly, at the end of the day, no matter what happens at the end of this season, it’s our job to prepare these kids for the game and handle the adversity. Players and coaches love this game. That’s sometimes the best distraction, to put the ball down there and go play the game that we love.”

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