Virginia Tech has officially appointed James Franklin as the new head coach, as announced on Monday. This move comes in the wake of Franklin’s recent dismissal from Penn State, where he faced challenges during the early part of the 2025 season, starting with a 3-3 record. The news of his hiring was first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz earlier that day.
The Hokies had previously opted for a midseason coaching reshuffle, parting ways with Brent Pry on September 14. Pry, who had previously worked alongside Franklin at Penn State, could not turn around the program, kicking off the 2025 season with an 0-3 record and achieving only one winning season over four years at Virginia Tech.
Franklin’s tenure at Penn State spanned 12 years, during which the Nittany Lions finished below .500 only once, a disappointing result during the abbreviated COVID-19 season in 2020.
In a statement regarding his new role, Franklin expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m honored and humbled to join the Hokie family. 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.”
Under Franklin, Penn State achieved tremendous success, winning at least 10 games each season from 2022 to 2024 and securing a historic first appearance in the College Football Playoff last year, where they reached the semifinals before falling to Notre Dame, the national runner-up.
The 2025 season began with ambitious expectations for Penn State, entering as the No. 2 team in the AP Top 25—its highest preseason ranking in nearly three decades. Unfortunately, as the season progressed, the team suffered a dramatic decline, experiencing various setbacks including an unforeseen loss to a struggling UCLA team and another defeat against unranked Northwestern that ultimately led to Franklin’s firing. Additionally, starting quarterback Drew Allar encountered a season-ending ankle injury during the Northwestern game.
Franklin’s Impressive Resume
Despite the turbulence at Penn State, Franklin carries a noteworthy coaching pedigree. His accomplishments include winning at least 10 games in six of his twelve seasons with the Nittany Lions and guiding the team to 10 bowl games from 2014 to 2024. Furthermore, Penn State claimed a top-10 ranking in the AP poll five times throughout his career. Although he has faced criticism for falling short in high-stakes situations, he still boasts a commendable 5-3 postseason record in New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff games.
Franklin is now poised to become the first Virginia Tech coach since Frank Beamer to attain 11 wins at a Power Four institution. Notably, the Hokies have not competed in a New Year’s Six Bowl since 2011 and have not been ranked in the AP Top 25 since early in the 2021 season.
A significant advantage for Franklin is his robust recruiting network. With roots in Pennsylvania and coaching stints at James Madison and Maryland, he possesses extensive connections in the Mid-Atlantic region, which is a key territory for talent acquisition. His focus on Virginia prospects at Penn State has already yielded success, as evidenced by the signing of two top recruits from the state, one of whom is current starting linebacker Tony Rojas.
Virginia Tech’s Bright Future
With Franklin at the helm, Virginia Tech has a promising opportunity to contend swiftly in the ACC, especially given the struggles of traditional powerhouses like Clemson and Florida State, both of which have underperformed this season. Clemson secured the ACC title last year, but Florida State is currently on a troubling 1-10 streak in its last eleven ACC matchups.
As a result, other programs like Georgia Tech and Virginia find themselves in favorable standings, alongside schools like SMU, Pittsburgh, and Duke that are all making a push in the conference. Franklin’s experience, which spans success in both the SEC and the Big Ten, positions him among the elite coaches in the ACC. He may be just what the Hokies need to break through the competitive ceiling in the conference.
Virginia Tech appears committed to supporting Franklin’s efforts. Following the departure of Pry, the university’s board approved a plan to increase the athletic budget by $229 million over the coming years. This will raise the budget from $190.1 million in the current fiscal year to $212.1 million by 2029-30. This strategic financial investment aims to bring Virginia Tech closer to rivals such as Clemson and Florida State, both of which spent over $160 million on athletics in the 2024-25 season.
