Looking Back at James Franklin’s Penn State Tenure: A Complicated Legacy, and a Lasting Impact
It’s been four months since James Franklin was let go by Penn State, and the emotions still run hot in Happy Valley. There’s frustration, disappointment, and, for some, outright resentment.
A three-game losing streak to close out the season. One Big Ten title in over a decade.
A 3-21 record against AP Top-10 opponents. Those numbers are tough to ignore, and they’ve become the headline for many fans.
But if that’s where the conversation ends, it’s missing the bigger picture.
Because for all the criticism - some of it fair, some of it not - Franklin’s time at Penn State wasn’t just about wins and losses. It was about breaking barriers, building opportunities, and leaving behind a legacy that reaches far beyond the field.
A Historic Resume
Let’s start with the facts. Franklin won 104 games at Penn State, tying him with Rip Engle for the second-most in program history.
He delivered four New Year’s Six bowl victories and elevated the program to preseason expectations it hadn’t seen since the late ‘90s. For a while, Penn State was back in the national conversation in a way it hadn’t been in years.
And while the ending was rocky, the overall body of work is significant.
Franklin also holds a distinction that no one else in college football history can claim: he is the winningest African American head coach in FBS history. He’s the first - and still only - Black head coach to win a Big Ten title.
That matters. Not just for Franklin, but for the coaches who’ll follow in his footsteps.
A Leader Who Opened Doors
Franklin’s story isn’t just about what he accomplished personally - it’s about who he brought with him along the way.
When he hired Charles Huff as Penn State’s running backs coach in 2014, Huff had never held a major full-time position coaching job. Franklin saw the potential, gave him a shot, and Huff ran with it - eventually landing three head coaching jobs, including his current role at Memphis. And when Memphis was doing its homework, Franklin was one of the voices who vouched for Huff’s character and leadership.
Then there’s Terry Smith, who came to Penn State from a struggling Temple program. Franklin brought him in as cornerbacks coach, and over time, Smith became one of the most respected and highest-paid assistants in the country. He’s served as associate head coach and even filled in as interim head coach - roles that don’t always get the spotlight, but carry weight in shaping a program’s culture and success.
These hires weren’t just about filling out a staff. They were about creating a pipeline. Franklin made it a point to give qualified minority coaches real opportunities - not just token interviews or short-term gigs, but meaningful roles with room to grow.
And if you walked through the Lasch Building during Franklin’s tenure, that commitment to diversity was on full display - across all positions and levels of the program.
The Bigger Fight
Of course, Franklin’s time at Penn State wasn’t without controversy. His relationship with the fanbase was often tense.
The “Fire Franklin” chants weren’t rare, especially in tough stretches. And there were moments - like walking off the podium when asked about serious allegations involving former players - that hurt his public perception.
But those moments, fair or not, are part of a larger conversation about how Black coaches are often held to a different standard. As legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson Jr. once said, “I’m sick of us having to be perfect to get the job.”
Franklin’s journey started far from the spotlight - as a non-Division I player, then a player/coach in Denmark, where he literally laid asphalt to make ends meet. It took him 16 years to get his first head coaching shot. And while his resume gave him a long leash at Penn State - over 11 seasons - that doesn’t erase the systemic hurdles he had to clear to get there in the first place.
Even now, in a season where Mike Tomlin was fired and no Black head coaches were hired in the NFL, Franklin’s story stands as a reminder of how far the coaching world still has to go.
A Legacy That Matters
Franklin’s time at Penn State ended in disappointment, no doubt. The boos and criticism were loud, and in many ways, his final seasons fell short of the lofty expectations that come with leading one of college football’s marquee programs.
But the legacy he leaves behind shouldn’t be reduced to a record against top-10 teams or a few frustrating finishes.
He changed the game - not just for himself, but for the coaches who’ll come after him. He proved that a Black coach can win big at a blue-blood program.
He built a staff that reflected his values and gave others a chance to rise. And he did it all while carrying the weight of being a trailblazer in a sport that still has a long way to go when it comes to representation.
Now in Blacksburg, Franklin isn’t starting over - he’s continuing the fight. And while the end at Penn State may have been turbulent, his time there remains one of the most significant chapters in the history of Black coaching in college football.
That legacy deserves to be remembered.