James Franklin Shares Why He Picked Virginia Tech Over Other Schools

James Franklin is now the new head coach at Virginia Tech, and he’s being very open about why he chose the Hokies instead of the 11 other college football programs that had openings. According to him, Virginia Tech impressed him with something he didn’t see everywhere—a real plan for the future.

At first, James Franklin wasn’t Virginia Tech’s top option. Pat McAfee shared that the school interviewed around 20 people before choosing him. The Hokies were coming off a tough 3–7 season and wanted a fresh start. James Franklin also made things easier by lowering his Penn State buyout to $9 million. Even with many other jobs open, he became excited when Virginia Tech showed serious interest.

On the Virginia Tech Sports Network radio show, Franklin said the program’s direction was clear from the start. He remarked, “It was clear they had a plan.” He added that many schools did not seem organized. What really stood out to him was how aggressive and confident Virginia Tech was while pursuing him. He said that both he and his family noticed this quickly.

His comments seemed to send a message to the programs that moved too slowly—especially Florida State. Franklin had been waiting to see if FSU would fire head coach Mike Norvell, but that decision came with a huge problem. Norvell’s buyout was more than $58 million, one of the biggest in the country. This made FSU slow to act. They even confirmed they would review the coaching position only after the season ended.

Things changed after Florida State beat Virginia Tech 34–14, which helped Norvell keep his job for now. According to Virginia Tech insider Kolby Crawford, FSU’s delay was the main reason the Hokies had to wait before finalizing a deal with Franklin. Once it became clear that FSU wasn’t making a move, Virginia Tech moved quickly—and that urgency helped seal the deal.

Before accepting the job, Franklin stayed quiet about his interest. He even declined to comment when asked before a game at Old Dominion. But once he signed with VT, he shared his excitement.

James Franklin remarked, “I’m honored and humbled to join the Hokie family.” “My goal is to bring back excellence, build something strong, and serve the University and the people of Virginia with passion and integrity.”

James Franklin comes in with a strong résumé. He led Vanderbilt to three straight bowl games, then spent 11 seasons at Penn State, winning the 2016 Big Ten Championship and three New Year’s Six bowls. Now, Virginia Tech hopes he can bring that same success to their program.

With new leadership and fresh energy, the Hokies are ready for a new chapter—and Franklin is ready to lead it.

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