James Franklin is reportedly expected to become the next head coach at Penn State, as first reported by Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports.
Franklin has been the head coach at Vanderbilt since 2011, where he has led the Commodores to back-to-back top-25 finishes over the past two seasons. Vanderbilt has also won bowl games in each of its last two seasons and gone 18-8 in the SEC during that span. Prior to Franklin’s arrival, the team won just 13 SEC games in 10 years.
Last month, Franklin was one of a number of names that was rumored to be in connection with the USC job. That position went to former Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian. When Bill O’Brien left Penn State for the Houston Texans last week, Franklin immediately became a candidate for the Penn State job. Franklin’s departure will not please Vanderbilt alum Brandt Snedeker, who recently made the coach a unique offer:
Sweetening the offer to keep @jamesfranklinvu here.. Free golf lessons for life if he stays.. Impossible to turn down!! #bestcoachanywhere
— Brandt Snedeker (@BrandtSnedeker) January 8, 2014
It was only a matter of time before Franklin left Vanderbilt for a more high-profile job. He has certainly earned the right.
