Houston Texans take head coach Bill O'Brien from Penn State

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/01/houston-texans-bill-obrien-penn-state

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Bill O'Brien is leaving Penn State less than two years after replacing Joe Paterno, and returning to the NFL with the Houston Texans to coach the worst team in the league.

Two people familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press that O'Brien reached an agreement with the Texans on Tuesday night. They spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement hasn't been made.

O'Brien will leave Penn State and a slew of players who pledged commitment to a team in its darkest hour for an NFL team that ended the season on a 14-game skid and 2-14 record. The Texans fired head coach Gary Kubiak in early December.

A former offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, O'Brien took on perhaps college football's toughest job in January 2012, joining a school rattled by the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Despite a lack of scholarships, a bowl ban, an overall sense of doom and player defections from the late Paterno's roster, O'Brien led the Nittany Lions to two winning seasons (8-4, 7-5) while restoring some tempered enthusiasm in Happy Valley.

But the Nittany Lions are back to the drawing board this week after losing O'Brien. After his debut season, O'Brien interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns, among others, only to stay in State College. The Texans' job, however, was too good to pass up. While the Browns and Jaguars were in the midst of overhauls, from the front office to the locker room, Houston is viewed as one of the best jobs in the NFL. There is plenty of talent on the roster – especially on defense – and the AFC South is seemingly up for grabs every season.

In July, NCAA penalties triggered a clause in O'Brien's contract that extends his deal the length of any sanctions given to Penn State. That means O'Brien's deal now runs through 2020. O'Brien received a restructured contract last year after he decided to stay. Though the contract was set to run seven more seasons, a buyout clause will kick in to allow his exit.

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