Penn State's Shrewsberry choosing between Nittany Lions, Notre Dame

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State HC Micah Shrewsberry choosing between Nittany Lions, Notre Dame

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/21/23

It appears Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball head coach Micah Shrewsberry is down to two options.

According to an ESPN update, Shrewsberry is "likely" choosing between remaining with Penn State and taking over as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to replace former longtime coach Mike Brey.

"The Nittany Lions have been in contract negotiations with Shrewsberry for the past couple of months, but his price, and leverage, have undoubtedly increased after the late-season surge," the ESPN story said. That piece added that Shrewsberry is "expected to decide in the next 36 hours or so."

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports tweeted Tuesday afternoon that Shrewsberry "has emerged as a primary candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Notre Dame" but could also secure "a lucrative, long-term offer to remain with the Nittany Lions" following a successful season:

Sources: Penn State's Micah Shrewsberry has emerged as a primary candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Notre Dame.

Shrewsberry is also expected to receive a lucrative, long-term offer to remain with the Nittany Lions.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 21, 2023

After the No. 10-seeded Nittany Lions beat the No. 7-seeded Texas A&M Aggies 76-59 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this past Thursday, it was reported that Penn State was "prepared to make a significant, long-term financial commitment to" Shrewsberry.

However, David Jones of Penn Live explained on Monday that Shrewsberry is originally from Indiana, has spent much of his life working in that state and may simply want to return home.

Jones also mentioned that Penn State "stands to bag about $70M a year from that $1.1B (Big Ten broadcast contract) with Fox, NBC and CBS that runs to 2030."

Such funds presumably could allow the Nittany Lions to outbid for Shrewsberry's services if money is the determining factor regarding his future.

Am told by reliable source, Micah Shrewsberry now in talks with Notre Dame. I believe Penn State made its pitch. Whatever is going to happen, stay or go, will happen soon.
— David Jones (@djoneshoop) March 20, 2023

Shrewsberry originally accepted the Penn State job in March 2021 and most recently guided the program to its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2001. In total, he accumulated an overall record of 37-31 over the past two seasons.

The Nittany Lions lost 71-66 to the No. 2-seeded Texas Longhorns in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday evening.

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