Which Penn State assistant coaches could follow James Franklin to Virginia Tech?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Penn State assistants face turnover; several trusted Franklin aides may depart.
- Special teams coach Lustig, co-DC Poindexter and QBs staff rank likeliest moves.
- Departures could reshape Penn State roster of coaches and hiring priorities.
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Penn State fires James Franklin
The James Franklin era is over at Penn State.
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Penn State’s coaching staff will see plenty of turnover this offseason, but there’s a chance some of those coaches end up working for a familiar face. Now that former Nittany Lion head coach James Franklin has been hired to lead Virginia Tech, there’s more clarity about who could go with him and leave PSU from the current coaching staff.
There have already been two support staff departures, with chief of staff Kevin Threlkel and general manager of personnel and recruitment Andy Frank heading to Virginia Tech, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Blue White Illustrated first reported their departures.
That being said, the on-field coaching staff departures could be more impactful, especially because they’re likely to remain at Penn State until the end of the season and could be coaches the next head coach would like to keep. Still, it’s unlikely that the entire staff follows Franklin.
So here are the most likely candidates to join him in Blacksburg with the Hokies.
Justin Lustig, special teams coordinator/outside linebackers/nickels coach
Lustig has not been with Franklin or Penn State very long, but he has quickly become someone the Nittany Lion head coach is close with. He’s done a good job with the program’s special teams unit in his two years and brings some added versatility to a staff because he’s worked on both sides of the ball with tight ends, running backs and now outside linebackers and nickels. He’s been an important piece of the staff and is a Pennsylvania native, which could make him someone the next head coach wants to retain, too. That being said, he might be the most likely to go with Franklin because of their close relationship.
Anthony Poindexter, co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach
Poindexter has been with Penn State for five seasons after being brought in by Franklin following the 2021 season, and has been an important part of the staff. He’s the co-defensive coordinator but was considered for the defensive coordinator position prior to Franklin hiring Jim Knowles after the 2024 season. He’s well-regarded and has had opportunities to be a defensive coordinator elsewhere, and this could be his chance to do so. The only hang-up is that Poindexter is a former Virginia safety and the rivalry between the Cavaliers and Hokies is important to former players. That being said, it shouldn’t be enough to get in the way if he decides to move south.
Danny O’Brien, quarterbacks coach
Only O’Brien is listed, but this includes assistant quarterbacks coach Trace McSorley, too. Both are Franklin guys through and through and it would be more surprising if they stayed with Penn State. O’Brien played quarterback for Franklin at Maryland in 2009 and 2010, while McSorley did the same from 2014-2018 with the Nittany Lions. They’re both young, with O’Brien in his fifth year at Penn State and second as QBs coach, and McSorley in the midst of his first year as a coach. Odds are both will end up with the Hokies if Franklin decides to bring them in.
Terry Smith, interim head coach
This might surprise some after the viral moment at Smith’s presser where he talked about how much Penn State means to him — but he’s also very close with Franklin. The Virginia Tech head coach said Smith was at his house earlier in the week, and he’s the one who brought the interim head coach back to Happy Valley when he hired him in 2014. Franklin promoted him multiple times, giving him the title of assistant head coach in 2016 and then associate head coach in 2021. And Smith said Franklin told him he was the one Franklin wanted to take over the program as the interim coach if he ever let go. Yes, Smith is a former Nittany Lion player and has been associated with the university for a long time, and it would be wise for the next coach to retain him — but it’s fully possible that he heads to Virginia Tech with Franklin instead.
