By Michael GallagherShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThough Virginia Tech hired head coach James Franklin to replace recently fired Brent Pry, it’ll still be a while before he can official take the reins of the program.
Interim head coach Phillip Montgomery has one more game left — next week’s matchup against No. 19 Virginia — before he officially passes the torch to Franklin.
The good news for Hokies fans is Franklin is the most accomplished coach the university has hired since legendary Frank Beamer retired back in 2015. Justin Fuente, J.C. Price, Pry, and Montgomery have gone a combined 63-62 in the 10 seasons since Beamer’s departure.
But Franklin has a history of success. He went 24-15 in three seasons at Vanderbilt, which ultimately earned him the Penn State job after Bill O’Brien left the school high and dry to head back to the NFL.
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In Happy Valley, Franklin built several contending teams. He had five seasons with 10 or more wins, he captured a Big Ten championship in 2016, and he led Penn State to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance last season.
With Franklin settling into his new role, one of the things at the top of his priority list is building a quality assistant coaching staff.
And according to 247 Sports, Franklin reportedly has his eye on one of the top defensive coordinators in the country, Jim Knowles.
The 60-year-old Knowles was hired by Franklin to be Penn State’s defensive coordinator this season not long after Knowles won a national championship last season with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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Under Knowles’ leadership, Penn State ranks 22nd in total defense (316.1 yards allowed per game), 13th in passing defense (167.7 yards allowed per game), 35th in scoring defense (21.1 points allowed per game).
During the Buckeyes’ national title run, the team had the No. 1-ranked defense (254.6 yards allowed per game) and No. 1-ranked scoring defense (12.9 points allowed per game) in the country.
Knowles’ $3.1 million salary at Penn State makes him one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the country.
If Franklin wants to entice Knowles to join him in Blacksburg, he will have the resources to do so. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Virginia Tech increased the staff salary pool to $15.5 million after hiring Franklin — a $7 million spike from what it was under Pry.
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