Virginia Tech hiring former Penn State coach James Franklin

Former Penn State head coach James Franklin is being hired as the next head coach at Virginia Tech, sources tell On3. Franklin was fired by the Nittany Lions in October and was viewed as one of the top coaching candidates this carousel.

At Penn State, Franklin went 104–45 in 12 seasons and led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2024. He won a Big Ten championship in 2016 and put together six double-digit win seasons. Penn State fired Franklin in October amid his 12th season and a 3-3 start to the season.

Franklin was the top target for the Hokies in recent weeks, and the waiting game paid off. A memorandum of understanding has been in place since at least Saturday night, sources told On3, and Franklin has now signaled he’s ready to go. Along with a growing athletic department budget, Virginia Tech has committed to funding a roster at the top of the ACC for James Franklin, sources added.

But Franklin is viewed as one of the top coaches in the sport, finding success as a head coach at Vanderbilt and Penn State. He has a 128–60 overall FBS record and has been a sought-after candidate with his lengthy coaching resume.

Penn State began the 2025 season ranked No. 2 in the AP preseason poll. Franklin has ties to recruiting in the mid-Atlantic and DMV area from his experience at Penn State. He will be able to start the job immediately and begin working on his roster for the 2026 season. The transfer portal does not open until Jan. 2 and National Signing Day is Dec. 3, giving him time to build out his staff.

“I thought we were going to win a national championship there,” Franklin said on College GameDay following his firing. “We were close. That goal hasn’t changed. We’re just going to go win a national championship somewhere else now.”

Franklin replaces Brent Pry, his former Penn State defensive coordinator, who went 16–24 in four seasons. Frank Beamer built Virginia Tech up to a destination job in the ACC, winning seven league titles and playing for a national title in 2000. The Hokies have not played for an ACC championship since 2016.

The Virginia Tech board of visitors approved a plan to add $229 million to its athletics budget over the next four years in September. The decision pushes Virginia Tech to the top of the ACC in funding, along with its peers.

Virginia Tech hasn’t won double-digit games since Justin Fuente’s first season in 2016. From 2004 to 2011, the Hokies won double-digit games each season under Beamer. James Franklin was the Maryland offensive coordinator before taking the Vanderbilt job in 2010.