Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with new information and Virginia Tech's official announcement of its hiring of James Franklin.

The first college football coach opening has been filled.

Virginia Tech officially announced early Monday night that it has agreed to terms with fired Penn State football coach James Franklin to become the new head coach at Virginia Tech. He will replace Brent Pry in Blacksburg, Virginia.

It was originally reported by multiple outlets, including ESPN's Pete Thamel.

"James Franklin embodies the spirit, vision, and relentless pursuit of excellence that will elevate Virginia Tech Football back on the national stage where it belongs," Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock said in a statement. "This is a landmark moment for our program — made possible by the unwavering commitment of our board of visitors, the search committee, university leadership and donors, who share a bold Invest to Win mindset.

"James is a dynamic leader, a relentless recruiter, and a coach who has proven he can build and sustain elite, championship-caliber programs. We are thrilled to welcome him and his family to Blacksburg and to entrust him with the future of VT Football."

Franklin was fired by Penn State on Oct. 12 after the Nittany Lions dropped three consecutive games to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern. The Nittany Lions entered the 2025 college football season as the No. 3 team in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and were considered national championship contenders after bringing back several of their offensive players.

Franklin was 104-45 overall in 12 seasons in Happy Valley and led the program to its first trip to the College Football Playoff berth last season. One area where Franklin struggled with at Penn State was against top-10 ranked opponents, as he led the Nittany Lions to a 4-20 record against top-10 opponents.

Virginia Tech was the first Power Four program to make a head coaching change in 2025, parting ways with Pry after an 0-3 start to the season. Pry went 16-24 at Virginia Tech after being hired away from his defensive coordinator position at Penn State in 2021, where he worked for Franklin.

The Hokies will be the third stop of Franklin's head coaching career, with his first stop coming at Vanderbilt from 2011-2013.

"I’m honored and humbled to join the Hokie family," Franklin said in a statement. "My vision is simple: to restore unmatched excellence, to build something that lasts, and to serve this university, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our amazing fan base with honor, integrity, and passion. I look forward to getting to work with our players, our staff, and the entire Virginia Tech community."

Here's what to know about Franklin's hiring at Virginia Tech, including a look back at his tenure at Penn State and more:

James Franklin Penn State record

Franklin posted a 104-45 overall record in his time at Penn State, good for the second-most wins in program history.

He led the Nittany Lions to just one Big Ten title, which came in 2016 against No. 6 Wisconsin. Last season, Franklin led Penn State to two wins in the College Football Playoff against SMU (first round) and Boise State (Fiesta Bowl quarterfinals) before falling to Notre Dame in the national semifinal.

Franklin led Penn State to 10 bowl-eligible seasons.

James Franklin career

Here's a look at Franklin's coaching career leading up to his time at Penn State:

Head coach unless otherwise specified. Assistant role listed in parentheses.

  • 1995: Kutztown University (Wide Receivers)
  • 1996: East Stroudsburg (Graduate Assistant/Secondary)
  • 1997: James Madison (Wide Receiver)
  • 1998: Washington State (Graduate Assistant/Tight Ends)
  • 1999: Idaho State (Wide Receivers)
  • 2000-2004: Maryland (Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator)
  • 2005: Green Bay Packers (Wide Receivers)
  • 2006-2007: Kansas State (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
  • 2008-2010: Maryland (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
  • 2011-2013: Vanderbilt
  • 2014-2025: Penn State

Why was James Franklin fired?

Franklin's most notable shortcoming at Penn State was his big-games record. The Nittany Lions posted a 1-10 record against Ohio State and a 4-20 record against top-10 opponents under Franklin.

"Penn State owes an enormous amount of gratitude to Coach Franklin who rebuilt our football program into a national power,” Penn State athletic director Patrick Kraft said in a statement following Franklin’s firing on Oct. 12. "He won a Big Ten championship, led us to seven New Year’s Six bowl games and a College Football Playoff appearance last year.

"However, we hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards, and we believe this is the right moment for new leadership at the helm of our football program to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships."

During an in-person appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" on Saturday, Oct. 18, Franklin said his firing at Penn State came as a shock and that he was told by Kraft he was being let go 15 minutes before the Nittany Lions had a scheduled team meeting.

"The AD walked in and said, 'We’re going to make a change, I’m sorry,'" Franklin said. "I was in shock, obviously. Really took the next 15 minutes to let my kids know, so they wouldn’t find out on the internet, and then walked down and had a super emotional meeting with the team to tell them I was leaving. It really, that was it, it was that quick."

James Franklin salary

According to his term sheet, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, Franklin's annual compensation at Penn State was $8.5 million on a deal that, before his firing, was set to run through Dec. 31, 2031.

James Franklin record vs top 25 teams

In his 15 seasons as a head coach, Franklin's teams have gone a combined 16-36 against ranked opponents. He went 15-28 all-time against ranked opponents in his 12 seasons at Penn State.

James Franklin age

Franklin is 53 years old and will turn 54 on Feb. 2.

Virginia Tech 2026 schedule

Here's a look at Virginia Tech's current 2026 schedule, including available dates, courtesy of fbsschedules.com:

Home Opponents:

  • VMI (Saturday, Sept. 5)
  • Old Dominion (Saturday, Sept. 12)
  • James Madison (Saturday, Sept. 26)
  • Virginia (Saturday, Nov. 28)
  • Georgia Tech *
  • NC State *
  • Pitt *

Away Opponents:

  • Maryland (Saturday, Sept. 19)
  • Boston College *
  • Cal *
  • Clemson *
  • Miami *

* Denotes ACC game

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia Tech hires James Franklin as Hokies football coach

Reporting by John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect