James Franklin May Join Virginia Tech
James Franklin’s stint as a coach might not be over for long. The former Penn State head coach is currently in the “early stages of negotiations” to potentially take on the role of Virginia Tech’s next coach, as reported by ESPN.
Virginia Tech is actively searching for a new head coach, and it appears there’s mutual interest between Franklin and the school.
A decision concerning Franklin’s candidacy is expected soon.
After being let go by Penn State only six games into the season, Franklin is now a free agent following a rocky start to what was anticipated to be a championship-caliber campaign.
Penn State had entered the season ranked second but faced a tough loss at home against a highly-ranked opponent. Things really went downhill from there.
Franklin, who is 53, built a reputation for snagging victories in expected situations but struggled in crucial games, with surprising defeats to teams like UCLA and Northwestern. Penn State decided to move forward, despite the hefty buyout of approximately $49 million due to his contract.
Pat Kraft, the athletic director at Penn State, emphasized last month the high expectations tied to their football program. “Football is our backbone. We’ve invested at the highest level. Now is the right time for this change,” he stated.
Franklin has made it known that, while Penn State may have lost faith in his ability to clinch a national championship, he still believes he can achieve that goal in the future.
During his 12 seasons with the program, he recorded a 104-45 overall record.
In his remarks after being fired, Franklin stated, “I thought we could win a national championship there. We were one step closer. That goal hasn’t changed. We just need to go win a national championship somewhere.”
While the dream of a national title at Virginia Tech might seem overly ambitious, Franklin has a history of transforming programs into contenders.
He went 24-15 in his three years at Vanderbilt, taking on a challenging role given the school’s focus on academics and its SEC affiliation. At Penn State, he helped position the team as a contender for both national titles and Big Ten championships.
Virginia Tech is in search of its next head coach after parting ways with Brent Pry, who, in his fourth season, began with an 0-3 record. Over his tenure, he managed a 16-24 record, and the school’s decision to dismiss him came after a loss to Old Dominion.
Currently, Phillip Montgomery is stepping in as interim coach while the Hokies are gearing up for a road game against Florida State this Saturday. With a record of 3-6, Virginia Tech hasn’t seen double-digit wins since 2016, having achieved that milestone only once in the past 14 seasons.
