Mike Munchak Not Interested in Penn State Job

Penn State has targeted Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak as the replacement for Joe Paterno, but Munchak isn't interested in the coaching position.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported on Wednesday that a Penn State search committee had tabbed Munchak, in his first year as head coach with the Titans, as the top candidate to succeed Paterno.

But Munchak told The Tennessean that he is not interested in the position, despite all of the interest from his alma mater.

I have a great deal of respect for Penn St and I hope they find a great coach there, Munchak said. But I am happy where I'm at. I love my alma mater, but I have no interest in being the head coach at Penn St.

I never want to leave Tennessee.

Munchak was an offensive lineman for Penn State from 1978-81, but has finally squashed constant rumors that he would be willing to leave the NFL to take over his downtrodden alma mater. He currently has the Titans in playoff contention in the AFC with a 8-7 record, but they do need a few things to work out in their favor.

The NFL Hall of Famer was billed by former All-American running back Curt Warner as a great fit, but now the Nittany Lions must focus their attention elsewhere.

The Post-Gazette reported that Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements is the university's second choice, but it could have to wait until the 14-1 Packers finish their season.

Miami's Al Golden, Rutgers' Greg Schiano, and interim coach Tom Bradley are other names that have been rumored in the past.

Anyone that accepts the Penn State job will be walking into a potentially difficult situation. Penn State has been rocked by the Jerry Sandusky child molestation charges and could be down for years, especially if it receives sanctions from the NCAA and/or Big 10.

Paterno was fired by Penn State after 46 years with the university after molestation allegations against his former defensive coordinator, Sandusky, became public. Sandusky has been charged with 46 charges of abuse, including raping a 10-year old boy in a Penn State locker room.