Reading the trajectory of the program from the top seat, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft felt he was left with no choice but to remove James Franklin as head coach on Sunday.
On Monday, he committed to finding an “elite” replacement who lives out the meaning and magnitude of “We are,” referring to the university’s defiant motto, “We are … Penn State.”
“This person has to fit Penn State. They need to represent the toughness, the blue-collar work ethic and the class that defines this institution. We want someone who honors our tradition but isn’t afraid to evolve, someone who understands the weight of ‘We are’ and leads us forward with a vision of championships,” Kraft said.” “The right coach will rebuild the unity and pride that defines this historic program, and they will ignite this fan base around a shared belief that we’re capable of greatness, and we’re going to do it the right way. We are the best program in the country.”
Penn State lost three games in a row after cracking the Top 5 in the AP poll. The season unraveled with consecutive losses to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern before Kraft pulled the plug on Sunday.
Kraft promoted associate head coach Terry Smith to interim coach and said he would “absolutely” be in position to earn consideration for the full-time role.
In an emotional press conference Monday, Kraft called on Penn State’s fan base to amplify their support for players on the current roster and point their rage at him. The response was in part a critique of indefensible video of fans screaming in the faces of Franklin’s children and harsh words shared after quarterback Drew Allar left his home field for the final time on Saturday with a season-ending injury.
“You can hate me, you can hate James,” Kraft said. “But rally around (the players). They deserve it. That’s who Penn State is. That’s who we are.”
Turning around the season is a tall order for Smith, who not only lost Allar as the QB1 but has a remaining schedule as daunting as any team in the nation with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 3 Indiana on the docket. With little time to exhale, Smith said he’s working diligently to get quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer ready for the challenge.
“He’s been thrown in there just like I’ve gotten thrown in there, so we got something in common,” Smith said, adding he would love the opportunity to stay as PSU’s head coach.
“It means everything to me. I don’t see working here as a job. I love waking up every morning and showing up for work and trying to make us better.”
Smith said Monday afternoon he was able to discuss the events of the past 24 hours with Franklin. Their conversation was packed with emotion, much like the team meeting Franklin led to inform the team of Penn State’s new direction.
“I was stunned, like most people in the building, most people around the country,” Smith said.
Kraft’s message to Smith was straightforward. His move might have been a surprise, but it wasn’t a revelation made after a losing streak.
“This is not a three-game thing. This is really diving into where we were as a program,” Kraft said. “What is the trajectory of this program? And you all know, I’m not shy to admit it: I’m here to win national championships.”
Franklin guided Penn State to the College Football Playoff for the first time last season before a loss in the semifinals to Notre Dame dashed national championship goals. The Nittany Lions were among Big Ten and national title favorites when the 2025 season began.
“James Franklin is a tremendous man, husband, father, mentor to countless student-athletes, and a good friend who has always carried himself with dignity and represented Penn State with absolute class. We are all incredibly fortunate to have had James Franklin lead our football program for over a decade, and we will forever be grateful to him and his family,” Kraft said. “That said at Penn State, we hold all our programs to the highest standards in our shared pursuit of excellence. My job is to evaluate everything and make hard decisions for what is in the best interest of our athletes, our program and our department. Football is our backbone. We have invested at the highest level with that comes high expectations. Ultimately, I believe a new leader can help us win a national championship, and now is the right time for this change.”
