Ad Disclosure
James Franklin Coaching History & Bio
Last Updated:
In 2025, James Franklin is entering his 12th season as Penn State’s head coach.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Nittany Lions’ head coach.
James Franklin Coaching Record
- Vanderbilt (3 seasons): 24-15 (11-13 SEC)
- Penn State (11 seasons): 101-42 (64-33 Big Ten)
James Franklin Record at Penn Stat
| Year | Record (B1G) |
|---|---|
| 2024* | 13-3 (8-1) |
| 2023 | 10-3 (7-2) |
| 2022 | 11-2 (7-2) |
| 2021 | 7-6 (4-5) |
| 2020 | 4-5 (4-5) |
| 2019 | 11-2 (7-2) |
| 2018 | 9-4 (6-3) |
| 2017 | 11-2 (7-2) |
| 2016 | 11-3 (8-1) |
| 2015 | 7-6 (4-4) |
| 2014 | 7-6 (2-6) |
* – made the College Football Playoff
James Franklin Coaching History
- 1995: Kutztown — Wide receivers coach
- 1996: East Stroudsburg — Defensive backs coach
- 1996: Roskilde Kings (Denmark) — Offensive coordinator
- 1997: James Madison — Wide receivers coach
- 1998: Washington State — Tight ends coach
- 1999: Idaho State — Wide receivers coach
- 2000-04: Maryland — Wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator
- 2005: Green Bay Packers (NFL) — Wide receivers coach
- 2006-07: Kansas State — Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
- 2008-10: Maryland — Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach
- 2011-13: Vanderbilt — Head coach
- 2014-present: Penn State — Head coach
James Franklin Bio
James Franklin has had a successful tenure so far in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions have won at least 9 games in seven seasons, and 5 of those campaigns were at least 11-win years.
In 2024, Franklin had the big breakthrough, of course, leading the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
With 101 victories entering 2025, Frankin is third all-time in program history, behind Joe Paterno (409) and Rip Engle (104).
Former 5-star quarterback Drew Allar led the Nittany Lions on their way to the Playoff.
Penn State made its second appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2024, falling to Oregon. Their last national championship was in 1986.
Franklin, who signed a 10-year contract extension in November of 2021, will be hoping to change that in the coming years.
Prior to arriving at Penn State, Franklin was the head coach at Vanderbilt. He was the Commodores’ most successful head coach in recent memory. He went 24-15 overall and 11-13 in SEC play at Vandy. Since Franklin left after the 2013 season, Vanderbilt has a total of 12 SEC victories. Vanderbilt also hasn’t reached bowl eligibility in the 9 years since Franklin departed.
Franklin was also an assistant coach at Maryland and Kansas State prior to getting the Vandy job. His other stops includes roles with Kutztown, East Stroudsburg, the Roskilde Kings in the Danish professional football league, James Madison, Washington State, Idaho State and the Green Bay Packers.
As a player, Franklin was a quarterback for East Stroudsburg — a Division II program located in Pennsylvania. He played quarterback there from 1991-94 and then immediately started his coaching career with Kutztown as a receivers coach.
Franklin’s accolades include 1 Big Ten Championship, 1 Big Ten East title and Sporting News Coach of the Year honors in 2016.