James Franklin, 16th Head Football Coach

James Franklin, named Penn State University's 16th Head Coach on January 11th, 2014, was born February 2, 1972 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Coach Franklin attended Neshaminy High School and then went on to play Quaterback at Division II East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania while earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology in 1995. During his time with the Warriors Franklin was a four-year letterman and a two-time All-PSAC selection. He set seven school records, including single-season marks for total offense (3,128), passing yards (2,586) and TD passes (19). Franklin also earned team MVP honors and was a nominee for the 1994 Harlon Hill Trophy which goes to the Division II Football Player of the Year. In October of 1994, Sports Illustrated named Franklin the National Player of the Week. Coach Franklin also has a master's degree in educational leadership from Washington State University which he received in 1999.

He and his wife, Fumi, have two daughters, Ava and Addison.

Franklin began his coaching career as the wide receivers coach at Kutztown University (1995) and was a graduate assistant coach at East Stroudsburg in 1996, working with the secondary. He then was the wide receivers coach at James Madison (1997), a graduate assistant (tight ends) at Washington State in 1998 and the wide receivers coach at Idaho State (1999).

In 2000, Franklin was named the wide receivers coach at Maryland under head coach Ron Vanderlinden. He continued in that role under new head coach Ralph Friedgen in 2002 and 2003 and helped the Terps to three consecutive 10-win seasons, including an appearance in the 2002 FedEx Orange Bowl. In 2003, Franklin added duties as recruiting coordinator and directed back-to-back recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25 nationally.

After five successful years at Maryland, Franklin was named wide receivers coach on Mike Sherman’s Green Bay Packers staff in 2005. During that season, Green Bay ranked third in the NFL in receptions (383) and seventh in receiving yards (3,766). Donald Driver was among the top receivers in the NFL, ranking second in receptions and eighth in receiving yards, with a then-career-high 86 catches for 1,221 yards.

Franklin served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kansas State during the 2006-07 seasons under head coach Ron Prince. In 2006, he helped the Wildcats to their first winning season in four years. Franklin coached quarterback Josh Freeman and oversaw an offense that produced a 3,000-yard passer (Freeman), 1,500-yard receiver (All-American wide receiver Jordy Nelson) and 1,000-yard rusher (James Johnson) during the 2007 season, a first in school history.

Franklin returned to Maryland in 2008 as the Terps’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He helped the Terrapins to victories in the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl and the 2010 Military Bowl. The 2010 squad was among the national leaders in scoring offense at 32.2 points per game and was led by ACC Rookie of the Year quarterback Danny O’Brien. He threw for 2,438 yards, 22 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 2010, with All-ACC receiver Torrey Smith making 67 catches for 1,055 yards and 12 scores.

In 2011, Franklin inherited a Vanderbilt team that finished 2-10 in both 2009 and 2010, including a 1-15 SEC mark. From 1983-2010, the Commodores had just one winning season (2008) prior to his arrival. His enthusiasm and coaching acumen drove a quick turnaround in VU’s fortunes, as the team posted a 6-6 regular season record and earned a berth in the Liberty Bowl during his first season.

The Commodores had a breakthrough campaign in 2012 under Franklin, finishing on a seven-game winning streak (longest since 1948) to post a 9-4 mark, VU’s most wins in 97 years. A victory at Missouri sparked an 8-1 finish, which included three consecutive SEC road wins for the first time in program history. The Commodores were 5-3 in SEC play, winning five SEC games for the first time since 1935, and posted two shutouts for the first time since 1968. Vanderbilt defeated NC State, 38-24, in the Liberty Bowl and Franklin was among five finalists for the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year.

Vanderbilt continued its historic rise under Franklin during the 2013 season, capping a school record second consecutive 9-4 campaign with a 41-24 win over Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The Commodores defeated Florida, Georgia and Tennessee in the same season for the first time in program history, winning in Gainesville and Knoxville, and finished 4-4 in the SEC.

Penn State President Rodney Erickson and Director of Athletics Dave Joyner announced Franklin’s appointment on January 11th, 2014. Franklin succeeds Bill O’Brien, who was named head coach of the National Football League’s Houston Texans on January 3rd, 2014.

Source: news.psu.edu

Seasons

2023  2022  2021  2020  2019  2018  2017  2016  2015  2014 

---

OVERALL RECORD
WINS
88 LOSES
39 TIES
0