Penn State Fires Head Coach James Franklin
James Franklin has been fired as the head coach of Penn State, leaving behind a complicated legacy. He took the job in 2014 and brought the program out of a dark time in its history.
Despite his efforts, Franklin was unable to compete with the elite programs in college football. His first and last losses with Penn State were to the same team, with the final loss being a 22-21 defeat to Northwestern at Beaver Stadium.
- Record: 104-45
- 2016 Big Ten title
- College Football Playoff appearance
Associate head coach Terry Smith will take over as interim coach. Franklin's 104 wins are tied for second-most in school history.
He leaves State College with a notable record, but ultimately unable to reach the top tier of college football.
Author's summary: James Franklin fired after 11 seasons at Penn State.