The wait is almost over. Virginia Tech is finalizing an agreement with former Penn State head coach James Franklin to be the next head coach of the Hokies, via Pete Thamel of ESPN.
This news was almost a month in the making. Franklin was first connected to Virginia Tech weeks ago. Penn State fired him on October 12 after the Nittany Lions started the season 3-3. Expectations were massive for Penn State this season, after coming off last season’s narrow loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
In almost 12 seasons at Penn State amassed a 104-45 record with the Nittany Lions. Franklin won 10 games or more in six of those seasons. Before coming to Penn State in 2014, Franklin spent three seasons at Vanderbilt, amassing a 24-15 record. Franklin led the Commodores to back-to-back 9-win seasons, which was a remarkable achievement at that time.
Ironically, Franklin replaces his close friend and former PSU defensive coordinator as VT’s head coach. Pry and his family were reportedly instrumental in helping the Hokies here. Considering Pry was fired only two months ago, that’s amazing and shows his love for Virginia Tech.
Franklin, 53, is a native of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and played quarterback at East Stroudsburg in the 1990s, which is where he met Pry.
This is massive for Virginia Tech. Not only will Franklin have a significant salary, but he will also hire a large coaching staff and support staff. He wouldn’t accept the job if the Hokies weren’t serious about competing at the top of the ACC with NIL. While other coaches were considered, it was Franklin or bust for VT’s search committee, which included Bruce Arians, Bud Foster, Eddie Royal, and other highly successful Virginia Tech graduates.
There’s a good chance Franklin will bring several of his former Penn State players to Blacksburg, and his hiring can help save the 2026 recruiting class for Virginia Tech, which is ranked near the bottom of the Power Four. Franklin has an existing relationship with many of the 2026 recruits, which should help the Hokies steal a few to close out their class.
A great day for the Virginia Tech football program.
