James Franklin is an American football coach and former player, known for his role as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions since 2014. He has built a reputation for his strong recruiting skills and ability to develop players, leading the team to several successful seasons, including a Big Ten Championship in 2016. Before coaching at Penn State, Franklin served as the head coach at Vanderbilt University, where he achieved notable success, including bowl game appearances. He began his coaching career as an assistant at various colleges, including Maryland and Kansas State, before rising to head coach positions.