Franklin Signs New 10-Year Contract.
agreed to the terms of a new 10-year deal to serve as the Nittany Lions’ head football coach through 2031. The Penn State Board of Trustees’ Subcommittee on Compensation adopted the terms today.
“Penn State’s future is bright, and I’m honored to continue to serve as your head football coach,” Franklin said in a statement. “Nine weeks ago, the administration approached me about making a long-term commitment to our football program. This sparked various discussions about the resources required to compete at a level consistent with Penn State’s expectations and history. What those conversations made clear was the importance of our student-athletes’ performance both on and off the field.
Sandy Barbour, Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, stated that the commitment to Franklin and the football program is critical to continuing to compete as one of the best programs in the country.
“We are excited to have James Franklin lead our football program for a long time,” Barbour stated. “We will continue to work together to improve every area of our program. We have made major investments in our football program and will continue to do so because we feel James will lead us to a bright future. With this contract, we demonstrate our long-term commitment to become one of college football’s premier programs. Our football ambitions and aspirations have never wavered, and our current and future investments in our program will enable us to compete at the highest levels.
“James has been an outstanding leader, delivering Penn State-level care and attention to all facets of our student-athletes’ growth and development. He has helped our young men intellectually, socially, and athletically. I’m happy James has committed to Penn State and will provide leadership for many years to come. I look forward to our football program having a long-term influence on students and the community under his guidance, as well as the Franklin family staying important and prominent members of our community. I am confident that our football program will achieve great success under Coach Franklin’s leadership.”
Penn State President Eric J. Barron also congratulated Franklin and the program on their success.
“Penn State is very happy to offer this extension to Coach Franklin, who has created an environment in which our student-athletes can be successful on the field, as well as leaders in our community and beyond,” Barron said. “As head coach, James continues to build the Nittany Lion football program despite facing a number of extraordinary challenges, including COVID-19 and a change in amateurism rules in college sports.” We look forward to his continued success, pursuit of excellence, and continued involvement with Penn State football and our university.”
Franklin, who will coach his 100th game at Penn State on Saturday against Michigan State, has a 67-32 record as the Nittany Lions’ leader. Under Franklin, the Nittany Lions are 43-12 at Beaver Stadium, including three undefeated seasons. Franklin led the Nittany Lions to the 2016 Big Ten Championship and bowl games in seven of his eight years as head coach, including the 2017 Rose Bowl, 2017 Fiesta Bowl, and 2019 Cotton Bowl.
Penn State has a.726 winning % since 2016, with a 53-20 record, ranking eighth among Power Five institutions. Penn State has won at least nine games in four of the last five seasons, one of only eight FBS clubs to do so.
Franklin ranks second all-time in winning percentage among FBS African American head coaches (minimum of 80 wins) and third in total wins. During his tenure at Happy Valley, he led the Nittany Lions to three consecutive 10-win seasons. Franklin has had top-25 recruiting classes each of the last nine seasons, including a top-5 class at Penn State in 2018.
Franklin’s student-athletes have earned four CoSIDA Academic All-American honors and two National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete awards. The Nittany Lions achieved their first 1,000 single-year APR in school history in 2018-19, surpassing the previous record of 993 in 2014-15.
He was named the 2019 Renaissance Fund recipient, which recognizes outstanding community members and assists kids in need. Franklin and his family established the Franklin Family Educational Equity Scholarship to make the Penn State experience more accessible for students who previously were unable to enroll.
To conclude the regular season, the Nittany Lions will meet No. 12/13 Michigan State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in East Lansing. Penn State will find out their bowl destination on Sunday, December 5. To request tickets, go to GoPSUsports.com/bowlcentral.
Fans can join the Nittany Lion Club and purchase tickets for the 2021 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, including club seats in Beaver Stadium, by visiting www.PSUnrivaled.com or calling 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
