Penn State officially names Bill O'Brien head coach

Penn State officially names Bill O'Brien head coach

Penn State has officially named New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien as the school's 15th head football coach in school history.

O'Brien will remain New England's offensive coordinator throughout the Pats playoff run. The school will introduce O'Brien at an 11:30 a.m. press conference Saturday morning.

A graduate of Brown University, also the alma mater of Hall of Fame predecessor Joe Paterno, O'Brien joined Belichick's staff in New England as a coaching assistant in 2007 after 14 seasons on the staffs of Georgia Tech, Maryland and Duke. He served as the Patriots' wide receivers coach in 2008, was the quarterbacks coach in 2009-10 and was appointed offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach prior to the 2011 season.

"The Penn State football program has a great legacy and has contributed enormously to our University community," said Rodney A. Erickson, president of Penn State University. "A program of this caliber requires a special kind of leader - a leader who will embrace that legacy and maintain the University's commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom. We have that leader in Coach O'Brien, and I look forward to working with him in his new role."

"We have found the man to take Penn State football forward," said Dave Joyner, Penn State acting director of athletics. "Needless to say, we have been looking for someone with some very special qualities, beginning with a heart that beats to the values and vision of Penn State University and our Penn State football legacy and tradition. That was our starting point, and Coach O'Brien exemplifies those traits that Penn Staters hold so highly. In addition to his model characteristics as a man and a teacher, he's all about producing winners, and doing so the right way. He will embrace tradition, demand excellence and pursue Success with Honor in every phase of our program."