11/17/25 09:09:00
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11/17 21:07 CST James Franklin hired as Virginia Tech's coach, just over a
month after Penn State fired him
James Franklin hired as Virginia Tech's coach, just over a month after Penn
State fired him
By JIMMY ROBERTSON
Associated Press
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) --- James Franklin was hired as Virginia Tech's coach on
Monday, a little more than a month after he was fired during his 12th season at
Penn State.
The Hokies became the first Power 4 football program to fill a coaching vacancy
this season. Franklin was set to be formally introduced at a news conference
Wednesday morning.
He was fired by the Nittany Lions on Oct. 12, a day after they lost at home to
Northwestern to fall to 3-3.
The 53-year-old Franklin went 104-45 at Penn State, winning a Big Ten
championship (in the 2016 season), a Fiesta Bowl (2017) and a Rose Bowl (2022).
Last season, he led the Nittany Lions to a first-round victory in the College
Football Playoff.
"I'm honored and humbled to join the Hokie family," Franklin said in a
statement. "My vision is simple: to restore unmatched excellence, to build
something that lasts, and to serve this university, the Commonwealth of
Virginia and our amazing fan base with honor, integrity, and passion. I look
forward to getting to work with our players, our staff, and the entire Virginia
Tech community."
Terms of Franklin's contract were not released. Before he was hired by Virginia
Tech, Penn State had been on the hook for a buyout worth nearly $50 million.
But Franklin and the Nittany Lions negotiated a settlement under which he'll be
paid $9 million instead, according to multiple reports.
Franklin has a 128-60 overall record, including his three seasons at
Vanderbilt. In Blacksburg, he takes over for his former Nittany Lions defensive
coordinator, Brent Pry, who was fired on Sept. 14 after the Hokies lost their
first three games by an average of 18.7 points. Virginia Tech started 0-3 for
the first time since 1987.
Pry went 16-24, including 10-13 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, in his
three-plus seasons. The Hokies (3-7, 2-4 ACC) have since been led by interim
coach Philip Montgomery.
Franklin was maligned at Penn State for not winning big games --- he went 4-21
against teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll --- but he brings credibility
to a Virginia Tech program that has struggled since Frank Beamer retired in
2015 after 29 years at the helm.
Athletic director Whit Babcock first hired Justin Fuente and then Pry in hopes
of continuing the success enjoyed by Beamer, but both coaches floundered. That
prompted Virginia Tech President Tim Sands to form a search committee to hire
the next coach and limit the scope of Babcock's role.
The Hokies have just four winning seasons since Beamer's retirement and six
since since Babcock became the AD in 2014.
The committee landed on Franklin, whose Penn State teams won at least 10 games
six times during his tenure. Franklin also showed an ability to recruit in
Virginia. In 2023, he signed six of the top 10 prospects in the state,
according to various recruiting services, and one of his best players in the
past five years was Tyler Warren, a tight end from the Richmond area who was a
first-round NFL draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts this spring and is
flourishing as a rookie.
"His experience, passion, and record of success embody our commitment to
compete at the highest level," Sands said of Franklin in a statement. "His
selection is the result of unprecedented collaboration by our athletic
administration with university leaders, esteemed alumni, including former NFL
coaches and players, and our most dedicated supporters.
"James will provide the leadership and inspiration our student-athletes need,
and the performance on the field that our university community, alumni, and
fans expect and deserve."
Virginia Tech has committed to providing Franklin with the resources he needs
to be successful. The Board of Visitors approved a plan in late September to
add $229 million to the athletic department's budget over the next four years,
primarily to bolster the football program. Half of that money, though, is
coming from philanthropy and needs to be raised.
___
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