Mike Munchak has quickly emerged as a leading candidate for the Penn State head football coach job.

Munchak was fired Saturday from his position as head coach of the Tennessee Titans and reportedly met with Penn State officials Sunday, ESPN reported. Unnamed sources said he interviewed with Penn State, the coach's alma mater, in Nashville.

The Titans started off 3-1 and ran an efficient offense under quarterback Jake Locker, but he was lost to injuries for most of the year. The team ended up 7-9 in Munchak's third year.

Munchak met with Titans' CEO Tommy Smith Saturday and was reportedly offered a contract extension worth $6 million per year, twice his salary. Under the conditions of the extension, however, Munchak would have to fire or demote most of his staff and go along with a rebuilding plan. Believing the team was ready to compete next season, he disagreed and was let go.

Before his firing, Munchak was seen as a possible successor to Bill O'Brien, who left Penn State to be the head coach of the Houston Texans. Other candidates for the Nittany Lions job were Greg Schiano, recently fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Al Golden, currently coaching the University of Miami Hurricanes.

According to the Associated Press, Golden released a statement through the school's website declaring he planned on staying at Miami, a similar move to Jim Moras and Art Briles', who both were being courted by Texas.

"There has been much speculation concerning my future at the University of Miami," Golden said in the statement. "While I am flattered that our progress at The U during an extremely difficult period of time is recognized, I am also appreciative of just what we have here at UM and I am not a candidate for another position."

The Patriot News' David Jones tweeted Thursday that Schiano may not even be considered for the Penn State job.

Also in consideration is Larry Johnson, the team's longtime defensive ends coach. Johnson, named interim head coach, publicly declared his candidacy Friday for the permanent job, the AP reported.

"Why not Larry Johnson?" he said. "I've been here 18 years, I think I know the lay of the land very well."

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