Aug. 18, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour announced Friday that head football coach James Franklin has signed a contract extension. The new agreement extends Franklin's current contract to six years, keeping the 2016 Sporting News and Woody Hayes National Coach of the Year as the leader of the Nittany Lions through at least the 2022 season.
During the 2016 campaign, Franklin's third in Happy Valley, he led Penn State to its first outright Big Ten Championship since 1994 and its second Big Ten divisional title. Named Penn State's 16th head football coach on January 11, 2014, Franklin has directed the Nittany Lions to three consecutive winning seasons, including an 11-3 mark and Rose Bowl berth last year.
"James and his staff have done an exceptional job with our football student-athletes and in all aspects of the football program," Barbour said. "His values are Penn State's values and they resonate throughout every member of the organization and team he has built. James is a tremendous leader of young men, motivating them to extend their reach and impact far beyond what they might have thought possible on the field, in the classroom and community. We are excited about continuing to work together to strive to make a lifetime of impact, win championships and celebrate many successes on and off the field along the way."
"My family and I are very thankful to be a part of the Penn State community," said Franklin, who was selected the 2016 Dave McLain and Associated Press Big Ten Coach of the Year. "I am pleased with the progress our program has made in the community, in the classroom and on the field. I look forward to diligently working with President Barron and Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour on implementing a plan that puts our University and our student-athletes in the best position to compete on the field and in life."
The terms of the contract are available here: http://gopsu.info/FranklinContract17.
From Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Franklin is entering his fourth year as the leader of the Nittany Lions and his seventh as a collegiate head coach. He is among 12 active FBS head coaches (7 at Autonomy 5 schools) to lead his team to a bowl game in each of his first six years as a head coach and has posted five consecutive winning seasons. Franklin, who directed Penn State to the No. 5 CFP and No. 7 final ranking in 2016, has mentored 44 players who've matriculated to the NFL during his initial six years as a head coach.
Franklin has guided Penn State football student-athletes to tremendous achievement in academics and community service. Included in the accomplishments are a program-record 56 squad members earning a 3.0 grade-point average or higher during the 2015 fall semester (19 on Dean's List) and more than 6,100 hours of community service during his first three years in Happy Valley. A total of 61 Nittany Lions have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition for posting at least a 3.0 GPA and being a letterwinner during the past three years.
Franklin graduated with a degree in psychology from East Stroudsburg University, where he played quarterback from 1991-94. He earned a master's degree in educational leadership from Washington State University.
Franklin and his wife, Fumi, have two daughters, Shola and Addison.
Penn State opens the 2017 season against Akron on September 2 in Beaver Stadium.