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Bill O'Brien's agent says coach is staying with Penn State football program

Penn State head football coach Bill O'Brien's agent told ESPN.com that the first-year coach is staying at the school, despite rumors to the contrary.

"(O'Brien) is staying, and we've had no conversations with anyone else," the agent, Joe Linta, said in the report. "In fact, he's leaving at 6 in the morning tomorrow to go out on the recruiting trail."

Linta also called recent talk about a buyout from the remaining eight years of the coach's contract "irrelevant."

O'Brien coached the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record this season in the wake of the program receiving unprecedented sanctions from the NCAA. But rumors about O'Brien possibly leaving began circulating after he declined to commit when asked by a newspaper reporter if he would return.

The former offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, O'Brien also reportedly drew interest from an NFL team.

O'Brien's original contract with Penn State was worth $12 million over five years. But the deal was extended for another four years after Penn State was banned from postseason play for four years as a result of the NCAA sanctions related to the school's conduct in connection with the Jerry Sandusky sexual assault scandal.

The report from ESPN's Darren Rovell also clarifies O'Brien's compensation given the school's bowl ban, which occurred after he was hired.

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/273529500384505858

statecollege.com