James Franklin and Virginia Tech highly praised for swift action & program turnover

Nov 19, 2025; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Bud Foster, Frank Beamer and James Franklin after the press conference at Cassell Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images | Brian Bishop-Imagn ImagesOne of the biggest, if not the biggest, offseasons in Virginia Tech history is well underway with new coach James Franklin. When the school fired Brent Pry back in September, little did Virginia Tech, the fanbase, or the search committee know that their replacement was going to fall into their lap.

Penn State fired Franklin in October, and a week before Thanksgiving, he was hired to replace his former defensive coordinator with the Nittany Lions. Right after he was hired, Franklin hit the ground…