James Franklin has been named the new head football coach at Virginia Tech. Franklin, a highly successful former head coach at Penn State, is expected to bring his winning record to the ACC program.
He took over the Penn State program in 2014 and led them to seven top-12 College Football Playoff rankings in nine seasons, along with a Big Ten Championship in 2016. The announcement of Franklin's move to Virginia Tech was made on Monday.
While his rumored buyout from Penn State was over $40 million, it is reported that only around $9 million will be paid, saving Penn State money due to his new contract with the Hokies. Franklin will be officially introduced at a press conference on November 19.
In a statement, Franklin expressed his honor in joining the "Hokie family" and outlined his vision to "restore unmatched excellence" and "build something that lasts." He stated his commitment to serving the university, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the fanbase with honor, integrity, and passion. Franklin was also linked to openings at other programs, particularly in the SEC, but ultimately chose to remain in the East to rebuild the Virginia Tech program.
This move is seen as an opportunity for him to continue his coaching career and potentially rebuild his reputation with a program that faces less initial scrutiny than some other high-profile openings.
