Penn State Fires John Donovan
The day has arrived. Penn State announced this morning that Offensive Coordinator John Donovan is “relieved of his coaching duties, effective immediately.”
Head Coach James Franklin released a statement saying, “I have tremendous respect for John and the work he has put in over the last five years. I wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.”
The news comes as no major surprise, as Donovan’s coaching style and decisions have been much-maligned over the course of this season. It’s a common theme among beat writers, fans, and certainly our commenters that Donovan’s play-calling has been predictable (particularly in the redzone the last two weeks) and that he’s hindered the development of top-end talent.
Donovan spent the last three years coaching under James Franklin, first at Vanderbilt and then the last two seasons at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions finished the regular season with a 7-5 record and await their decision on their bowl destination. Franklin will begin a national search for his new offensive coordinator immediately. We’ll have more information on this story as it becomes available.
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