James Franklin Hired as New Virginia Tech Coach, Aiming to Revitalize Program

Virginia Tech has officially hired James Franklin as their new head football coach, marking a significant move to rebuild the program. Franklin, formerly the head coach at Penn State, was let go after a 3-3 start to the 2025 season, despite Penn State being considered a championship contender. His history of teams losing crucial games contributed to the narrative that he was not the man to lead the Nittany Lions back to prominence. Virginia Tech, which moved on from coach Brent Pry after a 0-3 start and only one winning season in four years, sees Franklin as the ideal candidate for resurrection. Analysts describe Franklin as a "ruthless CEO" who excels at maximizing recruiting and fan support, and has a strong track record of hiring assistant coaches. He is expected to become the most powerful figure in the athletic department and win over the passionate fanbase.