Virginia Tech is finalizing an agreement to hire former Penn State coach James Franklin as its next head football coach on Monday, according to multiple sources.
Franklin will replace Brent Pry, who was dismissed in September after an 0-3 start and three-plus seasons leading the Hokies.
Franklin quickly emerged as the top candidate during a wide-ranging search that reportedly included Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck, Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, and James Madison’s Bob Chesney. Talks between Franklin and Virginia Tech intensified over the past two weeks following his October departure from Penn State.
While terms of the contract were not immediately available, On3’s Pete Nakos reports that Virginia Tech has committed to funding a roster capable of competing at the top of the ACC.
Sources have told @On3sports that, along with a growing athletic department budget, Virginia Tech has committed to funding a roster at the top of the ACC for James Franklin. https://t.co/hmMV8Kw9uq
This is due a recently approved $229 million athletics budget expansion. The move aligns with the school’s push to reestablish itself ahead of the next wave of expected conference realignment.
Franklin went 104-45 in 11 seasons at Penn State, leading the Nittany Lions to six 10-win campaigns and a 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal appearance. However, his tenure ended after a 3-3 start this fall and a string of losses, including to winless UCLA.
Despite those struggles, Franklin’s hire marks Virginia Tech’s most ambitious move since the Frank Beamer era, as the Hokies look to reclaim national relevance after nearly a decade of subpar results.
Jeff Hauser is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over twenty years of experience and is a two-time Emmy Award winner, Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award voter. Among the events he has covered are the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Series, World Cup, and WBC Boxing. Hauser is a regular guest on FOX Sports and ESPN Radio. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and Athlon Sports.