Bill O'Brien's football coach at Brown University predicted this in January.
"In time, and I know it will take time because there are a lot of wounds to heal, I truly believe [Penn State] people will say, 'Can you believe how lucky we were to get Billy O'Brien?' " Mickey Kwiatkowski said the day O'Brien was hired.
Less than 10 months later, Big Ten coaches and media voters made O'Brien the unanimous choice as the conference's coach of the year. O'Brien, who guided Penn State to an 8-4 record following a tumultuous offseason, was selected over Ohio State's Urban Meyer, who led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 record.
In addition, O'Brien's agent told ESPN on Tuesday that his client will return for a second season. O'Brien, scheduled to resume recruiting Wednesday, said the same in an interview with an Atlanta radio station.
"I plan on being the head football coach at Penn State," O'Brien told 790 The Zone. "That's my plan and that's what I intend to do."
Also Tuesday, Penn State defensive end Deion Barnes was named the Big Ten freshman of the year. Barnes, a redshirt freshman from Philadelphia, led the team in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (six). He is the first Penn State player to win the award since Curtis Enis in 1995.
Barnes joined linebacker Mike Mauti and receiver Allen Robinson in winning Big Ten player-of-the-year awards. Six Lions made the all-conference first team.
O'Brien, 43, won both the Dave McClain (media vote) and the Hayes-Schembechler (coaches) awards. He became the seventh first-year coach to win the McClain Award, established in 1972. Joe Paterno won it three times. The Hayes-Schembechler Award began last year, when the conference created two divisions.
O'Brien, the first Penn State coach to win eight games in his first season, called the awards "humbling" in an appearance on the Big Ten Network. His players have been effusive in their praise all season.
"That was the perfect hire," cornerback Stephon Morris said. "No one could have done the job coach O'Brien did."
"What else do you want from a guy who's had to inherit this situation?" Mauti added. "In my opinion, that's the coach of the year right there."
Barnes started the opener in place of the injured Pete Massaro and quickly became a playmaker. He tied Mauti for the team lead in forced fumbles (three) and made a season-high six tackles against Nebraska.
"I'm not just here to be good," Barnes said. "I'm here to be great. I want to be where I can't be blocked."
McGLOIN A FINALIST FOR WALK-ON AWARD: Quarterback Matt McGloin is a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the nation's top player who began his career as a walk-on. Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs and San Jose State offensive lineman David Quessenberry also are finalists.
The award, named in honor of the late Brandon Burlsworth, will be presented Monday in Springdale, Ark.
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