Bill O'Brien, the Patriots' offensive coordinator, will not take over at Penn State until New England's postseason run ends.  In normal circumstances, replacing a coach who served almost a half-century is a daunting task. Given the scandal that rocked Penn State this season when Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator, was charged with molesting 10 boys over several years, and the dissension in a tradition-rich environment, O’Brien enters a situation that is challenging as well as unprecedented.  “I can’t wait to get going on this, get everyone headed in the right direction,” O’Brien said at a news conference in State College, Pa. He added: “I feel like I’m a mentally tough guy right now. I feel like I’m the right guy.”  Those who know O’Brien best cite his Ivy League smarts, fiery temper, football acumen and deft people skills as reasons he will thrive at Penn State, where he agreed to terms on a five-year contract worth $2.3 million a year. They describe O’Brien, 42, as a likable and quick-witted Boston Irishman whose career has been shaped in large part by the need to find the best medical care available for his 9-year-old son, Jack, who has a severe developmental disability.  “If there’s anyone that can do it, he can do it,” said Syracuse Coach Doug Marrone, who coached with O’Brien at Georgia Tech and is one of his closest friends. “He’s faced challenges and he’s handled them with excellence. He’s a tireless worker, extremely bright and a problem solver. The best way to describe him is that there’s no challenge that he couldn’t overcome.”  Still, there are plenty of questions, including O’Brien’s lack of head-coaching experience, his ability to recruit after a five-year absence from the college game, and a 1-22 record as Duke’s offensive coordinator.  He will also be coaching the Patriots until their playoff run ends, which could be a significant obstacle to improving Penn State’s pedestrian recruiting class, though he said that he would be assembling his staff this week and sending his assistants out recruiting.  “I’m going to surround myself with good people and I’m excited to do that,” O’Brien said.  O’Brien graduated from Brown, Paterno’s alma mater. Those who have been around O’Brien say his intelligence will help him overcome his limited experience.  “Either you’re smart or not smart,” said Joe Alleva, the Louisiana State athletic director, who held the same position at Duke when O’Brien was the offensive coordinator there in 2005 and 2006. “It’s not something you learn. He’s a smart guy. He’s been around some really good people. I think he’ll do a good job.”  O’Brien’s big break in coaching, becoming George O’Leary’s offensive coordinator at Notre Dame in 2001, fell through when O’Leary lost the job after five days for lying on his résumé.  Instead, the turning point in his career came in 2007 when he took a large pay cut as the offensive coordinator at Duke to essentially become the N.F.L.’s version of a graduate assistant in New England.  O’Brien performed the grunt work of breaking down film, a job typically held by coaches more than 10 years younger. He proved himself quickly, however, rising through the ranks as Eric Mangini and Josh McDaniels had done.  “It was interesting to have someone that age, again with that background, willing and wanting to take that position,” said Scott Pioli, the Kansas City Chiefs’ general manager, who served as vice president for player personnel with the Patriots.  “That says a lot about Bill’s humility. He’s got a great balance of humility and confidence.”
Penn State introduced Bill OâBrien, the New England Patriotsâ offensive coordinator, as its new football coach Saturday. He will face several challenges in succeeding Joe Paterno.