I have never been a huge James Franklin fan but I think we need to consider
hiring him if he would take the job. The guy has won everywhere he has been. We want successful P4 coach experience, program builder, and recruiting ability and he checks every single one of those. Yes he has struggled in the big games but up until the last 2 has won pretty much every game that he was expected to. Just find it difficult to find a better candidate at this moment.
30 Replies
9mo
Replace a terrible game coach with a mediocre - at best - game coach. Kinda turned Vandy around with someone else’s players and skipped town. Then underachieved at PSU with top level resources.
** Edited by marcbvtgm at 10/12/2025, 9:52:08 PM
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
He couldn't beat Ohio State which is true for pretty much every program. His resources are not Ohio State level either. Just listened to the Sons of Saturday video and he averaged 9 wins a year at a school that averaged 7 from 2000 to 2013. Underachieving would mean not consistently beating the people you should beat and he always did.
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
H
HWA
9mo
I'd say using those years as the Penn State baseline is a bit of generous cherry-picking. So the end of a coaching era (see Beamer + Bowden), combined with the shower circus?
Might be more accurate to say PSU is a 9-win program, and that's exactly what Franklin did. But when a coach only meets expectations (and doesn't exceed them), and then fumbles an entire month, most fanbases are gonna get grumpy.
UGA got tired of Mark Richt, even though he consistently won 9-10 games.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
He might not be a long term fix but those aren't likely these days. More of a Buzz Williams style tenure that improves things and sets the stage for the next guy.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
V
VTCALS72
9mo
outrage about the possibility of hiring a just fired coach on here. And that doubles for it being the PSU guy. Do you guys really want this guy?
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
A
AggHokie
9mo
That would just signal that the school and program are fine with never being a top contender.
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
9mo
I saw his record was not as stellar:
0-15 vs top 5 teams
4-21 vs top 10 teams
3-17 vs. Michigan and Ohio State
Still, his overall record is pretty good. If the price tag is not too high, we shoule consider.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
** Edited by Techsupport at 10/12/2025, 9:32:27 PM
(In response to this post by RandomAsianGuy)
9mo
least. May pull the Jimbo Fisher vanishing act.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
You go from NC candidate to fired over the course of 3 weeks...and you're ridiculously taken care of financially...who in their right mind jumps right into a hiring cycle?
(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
9mo
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
Both failures.
We haven't tried the re-tread "P2 proven head coach" yet. Franklin might not be my favorite candidate. But we could probably do a lot worse.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
... with Whit and JB.
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
R
RJHokie
9mo
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
9mo
I don't think we're going to get a P4 coach from a school that's happy with him. Maybe he's like Andy Reid, Philly dumped him after he was a win
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
I also don't hate the idea of James Franklin.
Also intrigued by the USF and Tulane coaches.
But TBH, I think there is no magic pill. Someone unheralded might turn out great, and someone thought to be a lock might be a bust. I think about Cignetti going to Indiana and Fickell going to Wisconsin. Who would have thought that IU would come out on top of this round of the coaching carousel?
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
9mo
but because we're banking our new budget on some seriously pie-in-the-sky fundraising goals...I don't see donors getting enthused about pulling out the checkbook for a team to be led by a guy who just crashed and burned in a heartbeat.
Nevermind there's zero chance he'll actually be on the market.
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
9mo
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
They have egos and want to prove the previous employer wrong.
(In response to this post by Techsupport)
9mo
PSU and Tech alum here, and he would NOT be what VT needs He has issues we don’t want at all. Plus, the cost would be ridiculous. Pass.
(In response to this post by Hokie_Forester)
9mo
in '25.
(In response to this post by vtchem75)
9mo
in the ball park of what we are looking to pay. Again I have never been a huge fan but hard to argue with his record.
(In response to this post by vtchem75)