AP Story (Friday PM)

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First Interview / What they're saying about Franklin

Note: Story below includes contributions from Vanderbilt and Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Former East Stroudsburg University quarterback James Franklin '95 was introduced as head football coach at Vanderbilt University on Friday afternoon.

The former assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Maryland for the past three seasons, Franklin was introduced as the 27th head coach in Commodore football history in a press conference at 1 p.m. CST.

A native of Langhorne, Pa. and a graduate of Neshaminy High School, the 38-year-old Franklin is the first minority head coach to lead the Vanderbilt football program. He replaces Robbie Caldwell, who resigned Nov. 27. Caldwell took over on July 14 when Bobby Johnson unexpectedly retired. Vanderbilt is coming off consecutive 2-10 seasons. The Commodores went 7-6 in 2008 for their first winning season since 1982.

“We're extremely happy for James as he takes over the football program at Vanderbilt,” said Denny Douds, who completed his 37th season as ESU's head football coach this fall. “He has had a great work ethic all of his life which has paid off in this opportunity to be a head coach in the Southeastern Conference. It's exciting to see an ESU alumnus get a head coaching job in major college football. He was an outstanding quarterback for us and to this day, I think he ranks as the top dual-threat quarterback in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.”

Franklin, the college roommate of current ESU offensive line coach Mike Santella, was the Warriors' starting quarterback in 1993 and 1994 and was one of the first of a long line of prolific field generals after taking the reins from three-year starter Bret Comp. Franklin, Comp and their successors – Damian Poalucci (1995-97), Jeremy Palm (1999-02), Jimmy Terwilliger (2003-06), Tim Roken (2007-08) and Matt Marshall (2009-10) – have averaged more than 250 passing yards per game since 1990 and thrown for at least 2,000 yards in 20 of the last 21 years.

Franklin was a regional candidate for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the top player in Division II, during his senior season in 1994. He was sixth in the nation in total offense with 312.9 yards per game, throwing for 2,586 yards and 14 touchdowns and running for 543 yards and seven scores. The Warriors averaged a then-record 464.8 yards per game, including four games of at least 500 yards. Only three of ESU's prolific offenses over the past two decades – 1996, 2004 and 2005 – have averaged more yards per game.

He was involved in 54.6 offensive plays per game during a 10-game schedule and graduated with single-season records for passing yards, total offense (3,129 yards), total offense per game, completions (187) and pass attempts (365). He also set the single game record and is currently fourth with 512 yards of total offense in a 44-17 win over Southern Connecticut State. He passed for 362 yards and ran for 150 yards to earn Player of the Week honors from numerous outlets, including Sports Illustrated.

Franklin threw for 1,912 yards and 19 TDs and ran for 395 yards and three TDs in his first year as a starter in 1993, setting records for TD passes and TDs responsible for (22) after playing behind Comp in his first two seasons. He set ESU's career record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,077), a total that has only been surpassed by Terwilliger, the 2005 Harlon Hill Award winner. His rushing marks of 543 yards and seven TDs in 1994 still stand as single-season records for Warriors' signal-callers. All told, Franklin threw for 4,687 yards and 36 TDs and also ran for 10 TDs from 1991-94.

Franklin earned a bachelor degree in Psychology from ESU in 1995 and a master's in Educational Leadership from Washington State in 1999.



“The hiring of Coach Franklin represents a new day for Vanderbilt football,” Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos said. “He has my full support and commitment that we will help him create an environment where the successes on the field equal the university's extraordinary successes off the field. Coach Franklin will have an immediate and positive impact on our students, alumni, faculty, staff and broader Vanderbilt community, and I welcome him to Vanderbilt.”

Vice Chancellor for University Affairs and Athletics David Williams II said, “Improving our football program is a high priority at Vanderbilt and the first step in the process was to identify just the right person to lead us. Our search was national and we talked to many, many candidates and experts in the college football arena. One name that quickly rose to the top of our list was James Franklin. We are thrilled that he has agreed to become our head coach.”

This season, Franklin molded redshirt freshman quarterback Danny O'Brien into the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year. O'Brien ranked third among freshmen nationally with a pass efficiency rating of 135.2, and threw for 21 touchdowns after becoming the team's starter in week four.

Terrapin wide receiver Torrey Smith also flourished this year in Franklin's offense, catching 65 passes for 1,045 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to earning first-team All-ACC honors.

The Terrapins finished the 2010 regular season with a record of 8-4 and earned a berth to the Military Bowl. Maryland was second in the ACC's Atlantic Division thanks in large part to an offense that ranked third in the nation with only 12 turnovers lost.

Franklin has spent eight years on the coaching staff at Maryland, including the last three seasons as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. In February 2009, Franklin was designated the successor to Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen.

Franklin's efforts at Maryland impressed former Terrapin Athletic Director Debbie Yow, now director of athletics at North Carolina State.

“Coach Franklin is a terrific fit for Vanderbilt … an overachiever who maximizes every opportunity. He will bring with him a relentless work ethic and a staff that does the same. Working hard and working smart are his trademarks, along with expectations of academic excellence,” Yow said.

In addition to his offensive acumen, Franklin is regarded as one of the nation's top recruiters and has helped the Terrapins sign 10 four-star recruits in the past two classes. Rivals.com has cited Franklin among the nation's Top 25 recruiters on at least four occasions, including the last two years.

Franklin also has a history of developing outstanding talent. Two of his recent pupils – Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman – were chosen in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Franklin spent the 2006-07 seasons as offensive coordinator at Kansas State, helping the Wildcats achieve their first winning season in four years, and gain a berth in the inaugural Texas Bowl. While with Kansas State, he impressed another member of the Wildcat staff, current Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Raheem Morris.

“He is a first class coach, and a perfect fit for a university like Vanderbilt. He's a tremendous motivator of men, and inspires character in each of his players. He works really hard to be the best that he can be as a coach, and has the toughness to build up a program in the SEC. He will no doubt be a great representative of Vanderbilt University,” Morris said.

In 2007, Freeman broke a number of school records by throwing for 3,353 yards, including 122 completions to Jordy Nelson. Freeman is currently the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Nelson is a key receiver for the Green Bay Packers.

Franklin has ties with Green Bay, having spent the 2005 season as the Packers' wide receivers coach under head coach Mike Sherman. That year, Donald Driver established a number of new career-high marks with 86 receptions for 1,221 receiving yards.

Franklin's first full-time NFL gig came on the heels of a five-year tenure with the Terrapins. After being hired prior to the 2000 season, Franklin was one of two assistant coaches retained by Friedgen that November.

The Terrapins would earn three postseason berths in the next four seasons, including an appearance in the 2002 FedEx Orange Bowl. In 2003, Franklin was promoted to be Maryland's recruiting coordinator, helping deliver back-to-back recruiting classes ranked by experts among the nation's Top 25.

The tireless Franklin gained valuable experience in his early coaching career at five different stops. As the wide receivers coach at Idaho State in 1999, Franklin helped mentor a Bengals team that ranked ninth nationally in total offense.

Franklin's first coaching job at a BCS conference school came in 1998 at Washington State as the graduate assistant in charge of tight ends under head coach Mike Price. He also spent one season at James Madison as the wide receivers coach for head coach Alex Wood.

Franklin has been involved with the NFL's Minority Coaching Fellowship Program since 1998, including internships with the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins.

Franklin began his coaching career in 1995 as the wide receivers coach at Kutztown. The following year, he returned ESU to mentor defensive backs.

He and his wife, Fumi, have two daughters, Ava and Addison.

ESU Records, following graduation
Passing yards, season – 2,586 (1994)
Total offense, season – 3,129 (1994)
Total offense per game, season – 312.9 (1994)
Completions, season – 187 (1994)
Attempts, season – 365 (1994)
TD passes, season – 19 (1993)
Total offense, single game – 512 (vs. Southern Conn. State, 1994)
Attempts, single game – 51 (vs. Millersville, 1994)

ESU Season Rankings, current
Passing yards – 8th – 2,586 (1994)
Total offense – 7th – 3,129 (1994)
Total offense per game – 5th – 312.9 (1994)
Completions – 9th – 187 (1994)
Attempts – 3rd – 365 (1994)
TD passes – t-9th – 19 (1993)

ESU Career Rankings, current (2-year starter)
Passing yards – 8th – 4,687
Total offense – 6th – 5,765
TD passes – 8th – 36
Completions – 8th – 322
Attempts – 8th – 663

ESU Single Game Rankings, current
Total offense – 4th – 512 (vs. Southern Conn. State, 1994)
Attempts – t-7th – 51 (vs. Millersville, 1994)

ESU Quarterback Rushing Records
Yards, game – 1st – 150 (vs. Southern Conn. State, 1994)
Yards, season – 1st – 543 (1994)
TDs, season – 1st – 7 (1994)
Yards, career – 2nd – 1,077 (held record at graduation)
TDs, career – 2nd – 10 (held record at graduation)