Penn State Hires James Franklin as New Head Football Coach - East Idaho News
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Penn State Hires James Franklin as New Head Football Coach

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Getty S 11112 Penn20State20Logo?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1389474135658Justin K. Allen/Getty Images(STATE COLLEGE, Pa.) — With Bill O’Brien leaving Penn State for the NFL’s Houston Texans, the school has named former Vanderbilt coach James Franklin as his replacement.

Even though he was coveted by the NFL, Franklin reportedly agreed to a six-year, $27 million deal.

Not only has he had success at Vanderbilt, but he also has Pennsylvania roots. He was born in Langhorne, PA and attended Neshaminy High School which is also in Langhorne. He played college football at East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to come home,” Franklin said in a statement. “I grew up watching Penn State Football and now to be at the helm of such a storied program is a tremendous honor. It’s important to me to be part of a university that strives for excellence in everything they do.”

Franklin won 24 games during his time at Vanderbilt, and took them to three bowl games during that time as well.

Penn State still has two years left on their bowl ban, will have 75 scholarships in 2013, and 80 in 2014 as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child-sex scandal.

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