James Franklin Reflects on Lessons Learned in Final Season at Penn State

The former Nittany Lions coach said he wouldn't repeat some of his strategic changes after being fired in 2025.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football field and players, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and no recognizable figures or text, conveying the conceptual themes of the story.Franklin's reflections on his final season at Penn State expose the delicate balance coaches must strike between embracing high expectations and maintaining a laser-focus on the task at hand.Penn State Erie Today

In a recent interview, former Penn State head coach James Franklin opened up about the lessons he learned from his final season with the Nittany Lions. Franklin, who is now leading the Virginia Tech Hokies, discussed his philosophical shift away from his signature '1-0' mantra, as well as the risks he took that ultimately led to his dismissal from Penn State after nearly 12 years at the helm.

Why it matters

Franklin's candid reflections provide insight into the challenges of maintaining a successful program over an extended period, as well as the delicate balance between embracing high expectations and managing the external pressures that come with them. His experience serves as a cautionary tale for other coaches seeking to take their teams to the next level.

The details

Franklin revealed that in his final season at Penn State, he allowed his team and coaching staff to have more 'big-picture' conversations than they had in the past, straying from his laser-focus on a 'one game at a time' mentality. This strategic shift, which included Franklin occasionally referencing the team's high preseason ranking, ultimately backfired as the Nittany Lions stumbled to a 3-3 record and three consecutive losses to end the season.

  • Penn State fired Franklin one day after a 22-21 loss to Northwestern in 2025.
  • Franklin is now leading the Virginia Tech Hokies through spring practice in 2026.

The players

James Franklin

The former head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who is now leading the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Ethan Grunkemeyer

A former Penn State quarterback who followed Franklin to Virginia Tech.

Micah Parsons

A former Penn State player whose jersey Franklin has displayed in his office.

Saquon Barkley

A former Penn State player whose jersey Franklin has displayed in his office.

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What they’re saying

“I'm a big 1-0 guy, ... almost to the frustration of a lot of people. And last year, trying something different, trying to be a little more aggressive, [we] allowed our team and our coaches to talk more big-picture than we ever have. So there are things like that that we learned from that experience and grew from that experience and a number of others.”

— James Franklin, Head Coach, Virginia Tech Hokies

“There was a lot of excitement about the season. Players were excited, and obviously we were trying to take that next step. So we made some philosophical tweaks and changes to be more aggressive and maybe more aware of these types of things and allowed the players to have conversations and allowed the staff to have conversations that we typically hadn't in the past.”

— James Franklin, Head Coach, Virginia Tech Hokies

What’s next

Franklin will look to apply the lessons he learned at Penn State as he leads the Virginia Tech Hokies through spring practice and into the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Franklin's candid reflection on his final season at Penn State highlights the delicate balance coaches must strike between embracing high expectations and maintaining a laser-focus on the task at hand. His experience serves as a cautionary tale for other programs seeking to take the next step, underscoring the importance of staying true to one's core principles and not straying too far from a successful formula.