PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – If you are in the camp of ‘don’t blame the player, blame the game’. James Franklin is your king. He was mum around speculation of interest by big-money programs USC and LSU to be their head coach. Tuesday, Franklin agreed to a 10-year contract extension at Penn State.
Not only did Franklin get $7.5 million a season and $1 million put towards a life insurance policy for the next 10 years, he got incentives of hundreds of thousands more for winning the Big Ten ($350,000), College Football Playoff appearance ($400,000) and national championship ($800,000).
According to USA Today, when you combine the incentives, it would tie him with Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher for the five highest paid active coach in FBS (2 coaches in front of him, Dan Mullen at Florida and Ed Orgeron at LSU were fired). Franklin is just behind Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley for fourth. Franklin is the highest paid in the Big 10, just under $900,000 more than Ryan Day at Ohio State.
“Penn State's future is bright, and I'm honored to continue to serve as your head football coach,” said Franklin in a statement released by the school. “Nine weeks ago, the administration approached me about making a long-term investment in our football program. This prompted numerous conversations outlining the resources needed to be competitive at a level that matches the expectations and history of Penn State.
What's most evident from those conversations is the importance of our student-athletes’ success both on and off the field.”
Among the areas where the university will pump money into the program per the contract
· Academic support
· NIL (Name, Image & Likeness)
· Facility improvements
· Student-athlete housing
· Recruiting
· Technology upgrades
· Training table
Franklin called it ‘a roadmap of the resources needed’.
“This renewed commitment to our student-athletes, community and fans reinforces all the reasons I've been proud to serve as your head football coach for the last eight years and why my commitment to Penn State remains steadfast,” Franklin said. “Throughout this process I've kept our leadership council, recruits and staff updated on those conversations and I'm excited we've reached an agreement we can finally share with you.”
“We are excited to have James Franklin lead our football program for a long time,” said Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour. “We will continue our collective efforts to constantly improve in all aspects of our program. We have made, and will need to continue to make, significant investment in our football program because we believe we have a very bright future under James. With this contract, we are signaling our sustained commitment to being one of the premiere programs in the history of college football. Our goals and aspirations relating to football have never wavered and our investments today and in the future of our program will allow us to compete at the highest level.
“James has been a tremendous leader, providing a Penn State standard of care and attention to all aspects of growth and development for our student-athletes. Our young men have benefited from his guidance academically, socially and athletically. I’m thrilled James has committed to Penn State and to providing that leadership for years to come. I’m looking forward to years of impact for students and community for our football program under his leadership and to the Franklin family remaining valued and prominent members of our community. I know there will be much success ahead for our football program with Coach Franklin at the helm.”
“Penn State is very happy to offer this extension to Coach Franklin, who has created an environment in which our student-athletes can be successful on the field, as well as leaders in our community and beyond,” said Penn State President Eric Barron. “As head coach, James continues to build the Nittany Lion football program even while navigating a number of exceptional challenges, including COVID-19 and a shift in amateurism rules in college sports. We look forward to his sustained success, his pursuit of excellence, and his remaining an integral part of Penn State football and our University.”
Franklin is 91-47 overall in 11 years of coaching, 67-32 in eight seasons at Penn State. He is 3-3 in bowl games and 11-9 in his last 20 games.