James Franklin Net Worth

What Is James Franklin's Net Worth and Salary?

James Franklin is an American college football coach and former player who has a net worth of $25 million. James Franklin began his coaching career in the mid-1990s after playing quarterback at East Stroudsburg University, taking early assistant roles at Kutztown, Washington State, Idaho State, and Maryland. His reputation for recruiting and player development grew steadily, and by the early 2000s he had joined the NFL ranks as a wide receivers coach for the Green Bay Packers before returning to college football as Maryland's offensive coordinator.

Franklin's major breakthrough came in 2011 when he was named head coach at Vanderbilt University. At a school long considered a Southeastern Conference underdog, he engineered one of the program's most successful stretches, producing consecutive nine-win seasons and multiple bowl victories. His success at Vanderbilt made him one of the most sought-after young coaches in the country and paved the way for his move to Penn State in 2014.

At Penn State, Franklin rebuilt a program still recovering from NCAA sanctions and led the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten Championship in 2016 along with multiple top-ten finishes and major bowl appearances. Over more than a decade in State College, he became known for his relentless recruiting, high-energy leadership, and commitment to player development.

However, after several disappointing seasons and growing criticism over Penn State's inability to win marquee games, Franklin was fired in 2025. His dismissal marked the end of one of the longest head-coaching tenures in the Big Ten. Despite the turbulent finish, Franklin remains respected for his role in restoring Penn State's national prominence and for his overall impact on modern college football.

Early Life

James Geoffrey Franklin was born on February 2, 1972, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, to James Oliver and Jocelyn "Josie" Franklin. He attended Neshaminy High School and went to college at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, where he was the quarterback of the football team for all four years. Franklin set seven school records and was a Division II Player of the Year nominee in 1994. That season, he was also named the National Player of the Week by "Sports Illustrated." In 1995, James earned his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology.

Coaching Career

In 1995, Franklin became the wide receivers coach at Kutztown for a season before taking the job as the defensive backs coach at his alma mater. By 1996, he became the offensive coordinator at Roskilde Kings, though he only held the position for a year before taking the job as a wide receivers coach for James Madison. James later coached various position groups at Washington State, Idaho State, and Maryland before moving up to coach the wide receivers room for the NFL's Green Bay Packers in 2005. In 2006, Franklin became the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Kansas State. Two years later, he returned to Maryland as the offensive coordinator, and in 2011, he scored his first head coaching job with Vanderbilt. In 2014, James took over the job at Penn State University after Bill O'Brien left to take a head coaching gig with the Houston Texans in the NFL.

As head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, Franklin led them to the top of the Big Ten East Division in 2016 before winning the Big Ten Championship. He was named the 2016 Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year, "Sporting News" Coach of the Year, and the Woody Hayes Trophy winner.

Salary and Contracts

In November 2021, James signed a 10-year contract extension that came with a $500,000 signing bonus and guaranteed him $7 million per year in salary. If Penn State ever chooses to fire him, they would have to pay $8 million multiplied by the number of years remaining on the contract. In terms of guaranteed money, this contract made James the highest-paid in the Big Ten and the ninth-highest-paid in college football overall.

$56 Million Buyout

James Franklin's future at Penn State became a flashpoint in 2025 as the team stumbled to a 3–3 start following back-to-back shocking losses to UCLA and Northwestern, both as more than 20-point favorites. Those defeats not only derailed the Nittany Lions' playoff hopes but also ignited serious conversation about Franklin's job security after more than a decade at the helm. However, firing him would come at a staggering cost. Franklin's contract, which runs through 2031, pays him $8 million annually plus a $500,000 yearly retention bonus. Under its terms, Penn State would owe Franklin the full remaining value of the deal—roughly $56 million—if they chose to terminate him during the 2025 season. Even waiting until after the season would still require a $48 million payout. That figure makes Franklin one of the most expensive coaches in college football to fire and presents a massive financial hurdle for the university and its boosters.

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Personal Life

James first met his wife, Fumi, while serving as the Washington State tight ends coach in 1998. Years later, when James took the job at Maryland, they were reintroduced, and they started a long-distance relationship that led to their engagement in Green Bay. The couple has two daughters, Addy and Shola.

Philanthropy

In 2019, Franklin was named Penn State's 43rd Annual Renaissance Fund honoree, and the dinner helped raise over $287,600 for endowed scholarships at Penn State.

Since his arrival at Penn State, Franklin's teams have volunteered hundreds of hours each semester in community service, including annual trips to the Penn State Children's Hospital to visit young kids battling pediatric cancers. He has spoken at every THON, a student-run philanthropy, since 2014, and his family has supported the cause with annual gifts, including a $10,000 donation in honor of former players.

James has been a longtime supporter of "Be The Match," hoping to encourage community members to join the national bone marrow registry.

Before Penn State's Cotton Bowl appearance in 2019, Franklin matched a $10,000 donation from Goodyear to the Children's Medical Center in Dallas.

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