The most competitive game in college football right now isn’t played on the field; it's played in the boardroom. And the Virginia Tech Hokies just pulled off a dominant victory, becoming the first of nine Power 4 programs to fill their head coaching vacancy by officially announcing James Franklin on Monday. Amid vacancies at Stanford, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Penn State, Florida, LSU and Auburn. Virginia Tech didn’t just participate; they dominated, securing the hottest commodity on the market. This aggressive, decisive action sends an unmistakable message across the national landscape: Virginia Tech is done waiting. By beating out other major contenders, Virginia Tech has shown it is ready to make the necessary investment to secure a championship-caliber leader. 

This is a monumental hire, not just for the Hokies, but for the representation of Black excellence in coaching at the Power 4 level. Franklin, a program-builder with a career record of 128-60, arrives in Blacksburg after a highly decorated tenure at Penn State, where he won a Big Ten title and led the program to a College Football Playoff semifinal just last season. 

“I’m honored and humbled to join the Hokie family,” said Franklin in an announcement released by the Hokies. “My vision is simple: to restore unmatched excellence, to build something that lasts, and to serve this University, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our amazing fan base with honor, integrity, and passion. I look forward to getting to work with our players, our staff, and the entire Virginia Tech community.”

The immediate advantage for Virginia Tech is Franklin’s undisputed status as an elite regional recruiter. He has a history of plucking top talent right out of the crucial DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area, the region the Hokies must dominate to return to relevance. Under previous leadership, Virginia Tech lost recruiting battles to rivals like Penn State, Maryland and North Carolina. Now, the tables have turned. Franklin’s arrival should immediately reverse that trend, providing him with a rich recruiting territory that he knows immediately. 

With an institutional commitment of $229 million dedicated to modernizing the football facilities and supporting the athletic department, Franklin has the resources to back his transformational approach. The Hokies didn’t just hire a coach; they hired a closer who understands the necessary blend of talent acquisition and organizational structure needed to compete for ACC titles and national relevance. Virginia Tech chose action over ambiguity and the return on investment could be immediate.  

On Wednesday, November 19, at Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum, Franklin will be officially introduced at a press conference at 10 a.m. ET.