Oct 11, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin stands on the field following the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

A Major Shift Emerges in Virginia Tech’s Search as James Franklin Appears Set for a New Beginning

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Ajayi Olamilekan | Last updated Nov 17, 2025 6:20 PM ET

On3’s Pete Nakos says former Penn State head coach James Franklin will be the next head coach at Virginia Tech. The move concludes a two-month search that began when the Hokies dismissed Brent Pry in mid-September following an 0-3 start to the season.

Franklin brings a resumé that few programs could have imagined landing when the job opened. He went 128-60 over 15 seasons as a head coach at Vanderbilt and Penn State, establishing himself as one of the more consistent winners in major college football during that span.

James Franklin Appears Set for a New Beginning

Penn State let Franklin go in October after three consecutive losses in the midst of his 12th season, a move few from within the sport saw coming, based on his body of work. He went 104-45 at Penn State, compiling six seasons of double-digit wins, including three consecutive years from 2022-2024.

The Nittany Lions made it to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season, where they lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. His struggles against elite competition became a talking point late in his tenure.

Franklin was 4-21 against AP Top 10 opponents at Penn State, a number that became difficult to overlook despite the overall success of the program during his time at the helm.

BREAKING: Virginia Tech is hiring James Franklin as its next head coach, @PeteNakos reportshttps://t.co/ToDICc4qlB pic.twitter.com/1yZNIGI2I7

— On3 (@On3sports) November 17, 2025

The hire likely signals a new era for Virginia Tech, which hasn’t recaptured the magic of the Frank Beamer era. The Hokies haven’t won double-digit games since Justin Fuente’s first season in 2016.

Brent Pry, the defensive coordinator for Franklin at Penn State, had only one winning season in four years at Virginia Tech before being let go.

The university has made clear its intention to compete at a higher level. The Virginia Tech board of visitors voted to approve a plan that will add $229 million to the athletic budget in the coming years, per CBS Sports, bringing the athletics spending closer to programs like Clemson and Florida State.

Pry, was fired in September after an 0-3 start and a 16-24 record with the Hokies through four seasons. The transition from assistant to head coach created expectations that Pry never met.

Franklin now has the chance to show whether his methods can translate to a program that has lost its way since Beamer stepped down in 2015. The budget increase, combined with his recruiting acumen and program-building experience, gives Virginia Tech its best chance in years to return to relevance in the ACC.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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