James Franklin is a former American football quarterback who served as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. He has been honored with the Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year award in 2016 and many other accolades. Franklin has enjoyed a successful coaching career that began in 1995, and he played for East Stroudsburg’s team from 1991 to 1994.
Profile Summary
| Net Worth | $25 Million |
| Salary | $7,000,000 |
| Name | James Geoffrey Franklin |
| Age | 52 years old |
| Date of Birth | February 2, 1972 |
| Place of Birth | Langhorne, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Former: American Football player Present: Football Coach |
| Father | James Franklin |
| Mother | Jocelyn Franklin |
| Sibling | Debra Sharpe |
| Wife | Fumi Franklin |
| Children | Shola Franklin Addy Franklin |
| Height | 6’2″ 1.88m 187.96 cm |
| Weight | 81.6kg 180lbs |
James Franklin Biography
James Franklin, whose full name is James Geoffrey Franklin, was born on February 2, 1972, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. His parents are James Oliver and Jocelyn “Josie” Franklin.
His father, James Oliver, was in the Air Force. He met James’s mother, Jocelyn, when he was stationed in Manchester, England.
During his high school years, he attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne. When it was time for college, he enrolled at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, majoring in psychology.
He was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity throughout his college career and played quarterback for four years, from 1993 to 1994.
As a quarterback, he established seven school records and was nominated for the Division 2 Player of the Year in 1994.
During his senior year in 1994, he emerged as a regional candidate for the prestigious Harlon Hill Award, recognizing the top player in Division II football. Impressively, he secured the sixth position in Division II for total offense, boasting an average of 312.9 yards per game.
In the 1994 season, Franklin showcased his skills by throwing for 2,586 yards and 14 touchdowns while contributing on the ground with 543 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. His performance in the previous year, 1993, was equally notable, as he threw for 1,912 yards and 19 touchdowns, along with 395 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Upon graduation, James Franklin left an indelible mark on the school’s record books, amassing 23 records. Noteworthy among these are the season records for passing yards, total offense in 1994, and the passing touchdown record in 1993.
His exceptional performance during that season earned him recognition as the National Player of the Week by Sports Illustrated.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology at the end of college.
Franklin furthered his education by completing a master’s degree course in “Educational leadership” at Washington State in 1999.
Personal Life
In 1998, James Franklin, who was working as a coach at Washington State, met his future wife, Fumi, who was studying at the same university. They met again when he was coaching at Maryland and pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership. Despite the distance between them, their relationship continued to flourish, leading to their engagement in Green Bay in 2005. Today, James and Fumi are proud parents of two daughters, Addy and Shola Franklin.
James Franklin’s Net Worth
Franklin earns $7,000,000 yearly as a salary. This includes a $500,000 yearly bonus for staying and a $1 million yearly loan for life insurance. He could earn $1 million yearly in bonuses, with $800,000 for winning the College Football Playoff title.
James signed a contract extension in November 2021 to continue as Penn State’s head football coach until the 2031 season. The contract includes a $500,000 signing bonus and an annual salary of $7 million. If Penn State terminates his employment before the contract ends, they would have to pay $8 million multiplied by the remaining years. This contract makes James the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten and the ninth-highest-paid coach in college football in terms of guaranteed money.
As both a player and coach, Franklin amassed considerable wealth. His total net worth is estimated to be $25 million.
James Franklin Cars
James Franklin has three cars: a 1988 white Honda Accord, a purple Isuzu Trooper, and a shiny black 2005 Yukon Denali. His newest car, still in great shape, is valued at $19,538.
Charitable Works
As the 43rd annual Renaissance Fund honoree at Penn State, James Franklin contributed significantly to fundraising efforts, generating $287,600 for scholarships. His commitment extends to volunteering at the Penn State Children’s Hospital at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Additionally, Franklin advocates for the National Bone Marrow Registry and strongly supports “Be the Match.” Before his appearance with Penn State at the Cotton Bowl, he donated $10,000 to the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.