James Franklin Lands at Virginia Tech, Vows to Restore Hokies’ Glory
A swift coaching change has brought James Franklin to Virginia Tech, signaling a new era for the Hokies football program. After a disappointing 2025 season with Penn State that ended with his dismissal, Franklin was quickly secured by virginia Tech as their head coach, beginning with the 2026 season.
Franklin addressed commentators Bob wischusen and Louis riddick during Virginia tech’s game against Miami on Saturday, outlining the factors that drew him to blacksburg. “The frist thing is,they were very aggressive from the beginning,” he stated. “They had a plan in place.It wasn’t like, let’s work through this together. They already had a plan in place which I think was very helpful in the process.” He emphasized the passionate support surrounding the program, adding, “And at the end of the day, it’s what you see around here. There’s great passion and support for this place.Has been for a long time. And now it’s my job and our job to get this program back to where everybody wants it to be.”
Prior to accepting the position, Franklin proactively reached out to Virginia Tech legend Frank Beamer, seeking his blessing. This gesture underscores Franklin’s respect for the program’s history and his commitment to building upon its established foundation.
The “plan” Franklin referenced appears to center on significant financial investment in the football program. Details of his contract, reported earlier this week, reveal a commitment from the athletic department to increase the salary pool for his assistant coaches to $15.5 million – nearly double the $8 million allocated under the previous coach, Brent Pry. This substantial increase suggests a strong commitment to attracting top-tier talent and signals confidence in the school’s ability to support a robust Name, image, and Likeness (NIL) program to bolster the roster.
Franklin’s reputation as a highly effective recruiter positions him to quickly revitalize the Hokies. Many believe that the atmosphere surrounding Virginia Tech football, fueled by the iconic “Enter Sandman” entrance, is poised for a resurgence.
[Here is a link to the ACC Network’s post of Franklin’s comments: https://twitter.com/accnetwork/status/1727083999999999999]
The hiring of Franklin represents a bold move by Virginia Tech, demonstrating a clear intent to compete at the highest level of college football. the Hokies faithful will be eager to see if Franklin can deliver on his promise to restore the program to its former glory.
