James Franklin contract: Details for new coach of Virginia Tech revealed

James Franklin is to be the next head coach at Virginia Tech. Now, the school has announced the term sheet.

Franklin’s deal is a five-year agreement, per the school. His total compensation from Virginia Tech during the length of this deal is $41,750,000, per the release.

Virginia Tech is clearly investing further into the program with this deal for Franklin. That’s obvious too, as the Hokies have “committed to funding its roster at a high level” into “push(ing) Virginia Tech to the top of the ACC in funding”, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

At the end of his time in Happy Valley, Franklin was 10-year extension, one he only saw the halfway point of after signing it in 2021, at Penn State. The deal came with a guaranteed total of $80 million to be the head coach of the Nittany Lions. That then resulted in what was reportedly a $48.6 million buyout paid to Franklin, which, at that time, was the second-highest buyout in the history of college football. However, reporting following the news of his hiring is that the two sides negotiated that buyout down to just a total of $9 million owed to Franklin by Penn State.

Franklin asked for Beamer blessing

At his introductory press conference, Franklin revealed something he did before taking the job. While not necessary or required, he asked legendary Hokies coach Frank Beamer for his blessing to accept the job.

“As everyone knows, coach Beamer is the man, and he built this place,” Franklin said at his introductory press conference. “I have asked for the blessings of two people. Soaya Ala, my father-in-law. I called him and asked for his blessing to marry his daughter, Fumi. Then the night before signing a contract I called coach Beamer and asked for his blessing of taking over his program.”

Franklin will embark upon a new challenge after leading Penn State for 12 years. In some ways, it felt like a weight had been lifted off Franklin at his introductory press conference.

He seemed energized by the new opportunity. Of course, it helps when you’ve got the blessing of one Frank Beamer.

“I was a little concerned because I called him three times and he didn’t answer the phone,” Franklin explained. “So I called his wife and she said, ‘I’m sorry, coach, we didn’t have your number.’ But I was able to get coach Beamer’s blessing and that matters a ton to me, of somebody that values the history, the traditions, the legends. And obviously nobody’s more important at Virginia Tech football than Frank Beamer and his family.”

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this story