How much does James Franklin make?

James Geoffrey Franklin is the head football coach at Penn State University, as of August 2025. James Franklin began his football career at East Stroudsburg University, where he played as a quarterback and set seven school records. After graduating in 1995 with a degree in psychology, he embarked on his coaching career, starting as a wide receivers coach at Kutztown University. In 2011, Franklin became the head coach at Vanderbilt University, leading the Commodores to three bowl games.

Since 2014, he has been the head coach at Penn State University. Under his leadership, Penn State has seen remarkable success, including a Big Ten Championship in 2016 and consistent top 12 finishes in the College Football Playoff rankings. Franklin has also been recognized for his efforts in academic performance, achieving a school-record 93% graduation success rate and a perfect 1,000 APR for the 2018-19 school year. He started his head coaching career at Vanderbilt, where he spent three seasons before joining Penn State in 2014. He led the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten Championship in 2016.

James Franklin Salary

According to USA Today and On3, James Franklin makes a salary of $7.5 million per year. His compensation also includes a $500,000 annual retention bonus and a $1 million life insurance policy, bringing his total yearly earnings to around $8.5 million. Additionally, Franklin has performance-based incentives, $350,000 for winning the Big Ten championship, $400,000 for making the College Football Playoff, and $800,000 for winning a national championship. His contract, signed in 2021, is valued at $75 million over 10 years.

James Franklin Contract

According to USA Today, James Franklin's contract with Penn State runs through the 2031 season, following a 10-year extension that was agreed upon in November 2021.

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