Long time Penn State head coach James Franklin has been fired after the Nittany Lions’ poor start to the season, the varsity introduced Sunday.
Franklin has been the head coach of Penn State’s football workforce for over 11 years after becoming a member of this system in 2014.
The 53-year-old ends his time on the college with a 104-45 file.
Penn State’s affiliate head coach Terry Smith shall be in cost on an interim foundation till the tip of the season, the workforce added.
“Penn State owes an enormous amount of gratitude to Coach Franklin who rebuilt our football program into a national power,” Penn State’s vp of intercollegiate athletics Patrick Kraft mentioned in an announcement on Sunday.
“He won a Big Ten Championship, led us to seven New Year’s Six bowl games and a College Football Playoff appearance last year. However, we hold our athletics programs to the highest of standards, and we believe this is the right moment for new leadership at the helm of our football program to advance us toward Big Ten and national championships.”
After reaching final season’s College Football Playoffs semifinals, the Nittany Lions have began the season with a disappointing 3-3 file after shedding their final three video games.
Penn State’s shedding streak began with a loss towards the now No. 8 ranked Oregon earlier than a shock 42-37 upset towards the then-winless UCLA.
As stress began to construct on the head coach, the Nittany Lions’ third loss in a row got here on Saturday towards the Northwestern Wildcats in a closely-contested 22-21 defeat.
Penn State additionally misplaced their beginning quarterback Drew Allar for the season after he appeared to endure a left leg harm throughout Saturday’s loss.
The president of Penn State, Neeli Bendapudi thanked Franklin for his achievements on the college.
“I am grateful for all that Coach Franklin has done for Penn State football and the University over the past 11-plus years. We thank him for his dedication, and we extend our best wishes to him and his family as they move forward into their next chapter,” Bendapudi mentioned in Sunday’s assertion.
“Our commitment to excellence extends across every facet of our institution, including athletics, and I am looking forward with great anticipation to this exciting new chapter for the Nittany Lions as we continue to build on that standard.”
Penn State’s subsequent sport is towards the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday.