One of the underrated themes from James Franklin’s Big Ten media day appearance was just how much he values continuity — especially on his coaching staff. He made it a point to shout out how long this group has been together and how that familiarity is going to matter in 2025.
Franklin has been doing this long enough to know how rare that kind of staff consistency is in today’s college football. Coaches leave for bigger titles, coordinators jump to head jobs, and the whole system can feel like a revolving door. But at Penn State, he’s built something stable. And heading into a playoff-or-bust type of year, that’s a massive deal.
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He talked about how the staff doesn’t just work well together — they think alike. And that means a lot when you’re trying to install complex schemes, coach up young players, or make in-game adjustments on the fly. There’s no guessing. No egos. Just a room full of people locked in on the same goal.
Franklin said, “We’ve got a staff where people genuinely care about each other and care about the players. When you have that, it’s easier to coach hard, to push, to challenge — because there’s trust built in.”
It goes beyond just liking each other. Franklin mentioned how every coach on the staff understands the “why” behind what they’re doing. It’s not just play-calling or drills — it’s about the mission. And that kind of alignment is what allows teams to push through the tough moments in a season.
Another key? That staff chemistry trickles down to the players. When the coaches are consistent in their message, it helps build player buy-in. When you’re not flipping schemes or changing voices every offseason, players can actually grow in the same system year after year.
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Franklin’s been coaching long enough to see both sides — the chaos of turnover and the value of stability. Right now, he knows he’s in a sweet spot. The 2025 season is full of pressure and expectations, but he’s entering it with a staff that’s battle-tested, aligned, and fully trusted.
And let’s be real — if Penn State is going to take that next step and be a serious national contender, it’s going to take more than just player talent. It’s going to take a coaching staff that knows how to manage the moment, stay calm in chaos, and bring out the best in their guys week after week.
That’s exactly what Franklin believes this group is ready to do.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: James Franklin breaks down his staff for 2025
