Penn State Fires Head Coach James Franklin
James Franklin has been fired as head coach of Penn State, leaving behind a complicated legacy. He took the job in 2014, bringing the program out of a dark time in its history.
Despite his efforts, Franklin was unable to compete against college football's elite programs. 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 assume interim coaching duties. Franklin's 104 wins are tied for second-most in school history.
He leaves State College with a legacy that is still to be fully defined.
Author's summary: Franklin fired after 11 seasons at Penn State.