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Penn State removes James Franklin as head coach
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- Penn State removes James Franklin as head coach
Following a string of losses, each more embarrassing than the last, Penn State has reportedly brought an end to the James Franklin era. According to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN, Penn State has fired James Franklin as head coach of the football program. Associate head coach Terry Smith will take on the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the season, a released statement from the university confirmed.
Thamel reported the news of the coaching change on Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Penn State lost at home to Northwestern, 22-21, in front of a homecoming crowd. Penn State was a 20-point favorite against the Wildcats, a week after losing at UCLA as a three-touchdown favorite.
Penn State has not officially made a statement on this coaching change, but additional reports from national media have continued to confirm the development.
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Franklin was named the head coach of Penn State in 2014, taking over the program from Bill O'Brien upon his departure to the NFL. Franklin came to Penn State following a three-year run as head coach at Vanderbilt, where he guided the Commodores to a record of 24-15. In his 12th season at Penn State, Franklin accumulated a record of 104-45, including multiple victories in New Years Six bowl games, but his record against the top competition, specifically teams like Ohio State and Michigan , was well documented over the years. Franklin coached Penn State to one Big Ten championship in 2016 and made a return to the Big Ten championship in the 2024 season, en route to a run to the College Football Playoff semifinal.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State removes James Franklin as head coach
