James Franklin, Penn State Football Penn State has a daunting decision to make over James Franklin’s future as head football coach. (Syndication: Hanover Evening Sun)

James Franklin Announced as Head Coach at Virginia Tech

Originally posted on Nittany Central | By Ian Purdy | Last updated Nov 17, 2025 6:15 PM ET

Virginia Tech announced that they have hired former Penn State Football coach, James Franklin.

It was rumored that Franklin and the Hokies had mutual interest, and today, they officially agreed.

For James Franklin, this is a relatively quick turnaround.

After being fired on October 12th, he has landed a power 4 job about a month later.

Why James Franklin and Virginia Tech Were Always an Ideal Fit

Franklin will be staying well within his recruiting footprint , and close to home. The highly successful Penn State coach will be tasked with getting a Virginia Tech program up and running again, after a rough Brent Pry era.

For the Hokies, James Franklin is a near perfect option.

Franklin is a proven winner and recruiter.

Franklin is capable of going down to Blacksburg and having the Hokies pump out 8-9 win seasons relatively quickly. That should make Virginia Tech fans happy, as that is a clear step up from where they have been in the past several years.

Penn State Football, James Franklin James Franklin finds himself on the hot seat amid rising tensions following two disastrous losses in a season that began with lofty expectations for Penn State Football. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Another exciting thing for Virginia Tech fans, is that Franklin will likely bring several members of his class of 2026 with him. This will inject life quickly into the Hokies program. Franklin may also be able to lure some current Penn State players his way after the season ends.

In a lot of ways, Virginia Tech has hit a home run by hiring James Franklin.

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This article first appeared on Nittany Central and was syndicated with permission.

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