Penn State's Next Move--Unbelievably Important

What is the next move for Penn State? Everything from dropping football to suspending play for a year has been recommended. Irrespective of how they move forward, the most critical piece of this difficult puzzle is to find a great leader who has the charisma and integrity to save both the program and the University. This individual needs to have both the stature and credibility to make the correct decisions, understanding that this job is much more than being a head football coach, it is being the savior of a very prestigious and accomplished University. There will be no second chances for the next head coach and very little margin for error. Additionally, the next head coach for the Nittany Lions should have a huge reservoir of equity from the standpoint of having built their own personal brand of principled, focused and carefully thought out leadership.

In my viewpoint the pool of available individuals who meet these standards is relatively small. The one individual who I would make a mad dash to recruit for the successor to JoePa is Tony Dungy. Dungy brings so many positive personality and leadership traits to the dance that his selection would make such a strong statement regarding the expectations of Penn State. The name recognition from his days as Head Coach of the Colts and the Buccaneers along with his television exposure on NBC’s Football Night In American, assures a solid recruiting environment that is attractive to potential recruits. His position as national spokesman for All Pro Dad will endear him to parents. Additionally Dungy is a good football coach who builds super strong bonds with his athletes. Realistically he has a proven track record of winning championships the right way. Yet most of all, in all of sport, no one is recognized as having a better value system than the former University Of Minnesota quarterback.

So to recap what Coach Dungy’s leadership skill bring :

1. Credibility
2. Equity from winning
3. Charisma
4. Respect from numerous constituent groups
5. Proven track record
6. Solid set of core values
7. Toughness to make right decision
8. Knowledge of the Big Picture

While I am not a huge proponent of the break the bank mentality of paying high profile coaches, I would get on a plane with a key to the vault and do everything in my power to encourage Tony Dungy to accept this challenge for the next five years. After he has stabilized the program, he would then have the opportunity to continue his tenure or replace himself with his own chosen successor. At 55 years old, Tony Dungy could have one last great coaching run but more importantly he could have an unbelievable impact on the future of a great University and hundreds of thousands of its students, alumni, faculty and staff. For once, I think this is blank check time in Central Pennsylvania. The investment in Dungy will pay for itself hundred of times over. The cost of not having a leader of this magnitude would be a price that Penn State cannot afford to pay.