“Penn State owes an enormous amount of gratitude to Coach Franklin who rebuilt our football program into a national power,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft. “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.”
“I am grateful for all that Coach Franklin has done for Penn State football and the University over the past 11-plus years. We thank him for his dedication, and we extend our best wishes to him and his family as they move forward into their next chapter,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “Our commitment to excellence extends across every facet of our institution, including athletics, and I am looking forward with great anticipation to this exciting new chapter for the Nittany Lions as we continue to build on that standard.”
The Bucks County native Franklin was named as Penn State’s 16th head football coach on January 11, 2014, and was in his 12th season with the Nittany Lions after taking over for Bill O’Brien. The program was still recovering from the shadow cast by the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the sanctions that were implemented.
Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts against Oregon during the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Florida International, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, and Penn State head coach James Franklin shake hands in front of the trophy during a news conference for the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff game, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Dania Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 21: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after defeating the Southern Methodist Mustangs 38-10 in the Playoff First Round Game at Beaver Stadium on December 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts during the Saturday afternoon Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ole Miss Rebels on December 30, 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin leads the Penn State Nittany Lions onto the filed prior to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Mississippi Rebels on December 30, 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 28: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions greets fans on the way to the stadium before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium on October 28, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions high-fives with the players as the celebrate with the Leishman Trophy after defeating the Utah Utes in the 2023 Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Pasadena, California. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Utah Utes with a score of 35 to 21. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after defeating the Utah Utes in the 2023 Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Pasadena, California. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Utah Utes with a score of 35 to 21. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions hoist the Leishman Trophy after defeating the Utah Utes in the 2023 Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – DECEMBER 19: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half at Beaver Stadium on December 19, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts to a call in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin walks the field before an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin looks at his play sheet against Northwestern during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger
Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin looks over quarterback Drew Allar (15) as he lays on the field injured during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State’s head coach James Franklin reacts following an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky)
Penn State head coach James Franklin reacts during a press conference following an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State head coach James Franklin leaves a press conference following an NCAA college football game against Northwestern, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
In 2024, Franklin won his 100th game as Penn State’s head coach and, with a 104-45 record, he leaves as the second-winningest coach in the history of Penn State football.
Under Franklin’s tenure, Penn State went to back-to-back New Year’s Six bowls in 2016 (Rose) and 2017 (Fiesta) for the first time since 1985. While moments like the 2016 win over #2-ranked Ohio State were a crowning achievement in Franklin’s tenure, he leaves with a 4-21 record against opponents ranked in the AP top 10.
Kraft will lead the national search for the next head coach.
“Penn State Football is an integral part of our University and is an important part of the lives of our millions of fans, community members and alumni around the world,” said Kraft. “We have the best college football fans in America, a rich tradition of excellence, significant investments in our program, compete in the best conference in college sports and have a state-of-the-art renovated stadium on the horizon. I am confident in our future and in our ability to attract elite candidates to lead our program.”
The Nittany Lions’ next game is on the road against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 18. The team will face Ohio State on November 1.
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