University of Miami head coach Al Golden is on Penn State's wish list to replace Bill O'Brien, Penn Live reports.
According to multiple outlets, O'Brien is set to be named coach of the Houston Texans.
Vanderbilt's James Franklin is also reportedly high on Penn State's early list of candidates.
This is not the first time Golden to Penn State rumors have surfaced. After Joe Paterno retired in 2011, Golden's name came up. The Nittany Lions hired O'Brien, who repotedly left the program Wednesday for the Texans.
Golden, who played tight end for Penn State from 1989-1991, was a captain his senior year for the team that won the 1992 Fiesta Bowl. He was a linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator under Paterno in 2000.
If Golden left Miami, he would go from one sanctioned program to another. Penn State just finished its second year of a four-year postseason ban because of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
The 44-year-old took over the job in Miami Dec. 13, 2010. He has gone 22-15 in three seasons, improving the win total each year (six in 2011, seven in 2012, nine in 2013). The Hurricanes lost 36-9 to No. 18 Louisville at the Russell Athletic Bowl last Saturday.
