Tom Allen will remain in the Big Ten in 2024.
According to a report from ESPN's Pete Thamel, the former Indiana head coach is expected to become the next defensive coordinator at Penn State, a position Manny Diaz left vacant after he accepted the head coach position at Duke on Dec. 9. The deal will not reduce the Hoosiers' financial obligation to Allen, according to the Indy Star's Zach Osterman.
Sources: Penn State is targeting former Indiana coach Tom Allen to be the schools next defensive coordinator. Deal is being finalized and is expected to come together in the upcoming days.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 17, 2023
Allen was known as a defensive-minded head coach for the Hoosiers. He held defensive coordinator and/or defensive assistant positions at Indiana (2016), South Florida (2015), Ole Miss (2012-14), Arkansas State (2011) and Drake (2010) before he took over the IU program in 2017.
After seven seasons as Indiana's head coach from 2017-23, athletic director Scott Dolson fired Allen on Nov. 26, one day after the Hoosiers completed their third consecutive losing season.
Allen had a 33-49 record in those seven seasons as Hoosiers coach. The Hoosiers dropped their final three contests, including the Old Oaken Bucket Game at Purdue on Nov. 25, and went 3-9 in 2023. Allen and Indiana went 9-26 overall and 3-24 in Big Ten competition since their impressive 2020 campaign, which resulted in a 6-2 record and a narrow 26-20 loss to Ole Miss in the Outback Bowl.
In the 2023 regular season, Penn State's defense ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the FBS in yards (223.3) and points (11.3) allowed per game. The Nittany Lions were also neck-and-neck with Michigan for the No. 1 spot in stop rate at 81.6%.
If hired this week, Allen could take over the unit for Penn State's Peach Bowl matchup with Ole Miss on Dec. 30. Penn State head coach James Franklin could also elect to have Allen make his coaching debut at the start of the 2024 season.
