Watch Penn State AD Pat Kraft talk about James Franklin, new coach search & more
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Penn State fires James Franklin
The James Franklin era is over at Penn State.
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A day after announcing that James Franklin will no longer lead the Penn State football program, athletic director Pat Kraft addressed the media Monday about Franklin’s termination and the search for the next coach.
In a four-minute opening statement during a packed press conference, Kraft expressed appreciation to Franklin, who was with the program for nearly a decade. But he echoed the sentiment shared in a news release announcing Franklin’s termination, saying that all programs are held to the highest standards. Franklin fell well short of expectations this season, at 3-3, with three Big Ten losses including one to Northwestern on Saturday.
“Ultimately I believe a new leader can help us win a national championship and now is the right time for this change,” Kraft said.
The AD also spoke about interim head coach Terry Smith, who has served as Penn State’s cornerbacks coach/associate head coach, and who spoke to the media later during the press conference.
“He will pour his heart and soul into this role and our players, and fans deserve nothing less,” Kraft said.
Kraft also spoke about the national search for Penn State’s next head football coach and ended his opening statement by urging the fanbase to rally around the Nittany Lions.
“All our focus should be around the young men in Lasch right now who wear the blue and white,” he said. “We have a lot of football left — they deserve every ounce of our support.”
See Kraft’s full opening statement in the video above.
