Nov 24, 2025 - News

Virginia Tech to pay James Franklin $41.75M through 2030

Sabrina Moreno

James Franklin with a mic in his hand and his right hand's index finger pointed up. He's wearing a Hokies sweatshirt while standing on a football field. — Virginia Tech's new head football coach James Franklin at the game against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday. Photo: Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Virginia Tech's new head football coach James Franklin is set to make over $8 million per year, on average, through 2030, according to contract details released by the university.

The big picture: That's more than every public university president in the country earned last year, according to data compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The deal also cements Franklin as one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

By the numbers: Tech will pay Franklin at least $41.75 million over five years under a backloaded contract that climbs to more than $13 million in 2030, per the term sheet.

He's set to make $6 million for the 2026 season.
Those figures exclude performance bonuses like $800,000 for delivering a national title and up to $800,000 tied to TV viewership.

The intrigue: The university is committing an additional $15.5 million annually for assistant and support staff salaries and $3 million for recruiting.

Fun fact: UVA's Tony Elliott is the next highest-paid football coach in the state, making about $4.4 million this year, per USA Today.

Catch up quick: Franklin was hired this month after the Hokies fired coach Brent Pry for starting the season at 0-3 — the program's worst opening in nearly 40 years.

Penn State dismissed Franklin in October after three straight losses.
Franklin was an assistant coach for JMU's team in 1997.

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Virginia Tech to pay James Franklin $41.75M through 2030

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