2025-26 Coaching Carousel

[JwittersPAC]

Bit more on Franklin/PSU offset language: Penn State Could Owe James Franklin Very Little of Buyout

“Franklin and Penn State could have negotiated a settlement after his firing, but the terms of his 2021 contract extension, obtained by Front Office Sports, read: “Should Coach obtain such applicable employment prior to the date this Contract would otherwise have expired, the University’s obligation to make payments to Coach … will be offset by the total compensation earned by Coach from such applicable new position through the end of the otherwise unexpired term of this agreement.”

In other words, whatever new salary he receives from his next job will offset what Penn State owes him in a buyout. And Franklin is obligated to search for a new job, according to the deal. That language, known as “duty to mitigate,” states: “Once terminated, Coach is obligated to diligently search for and make a good faith effort to obtain another position appropriate for his skill set (i.e., coaching, scouting and broadcasting only) and to provide the university upon request with evidence that he is seeking such employment.” Franklin is also required “to make good faith efforts to obtain the maximum reasonable salary” at his new job.”

Hearing that Virginia Tech is going to pay James Franklin around $9 million per year. Could explain why the settlement from Penn State is only $9 million.

 

[huskymedic]

Hearing that Virginia Tech is going to pay James Franklin around $9 million per year. Could explain why the settlement from Penn State is only $9 million.

Its been reported that to avoid drawn-out calculations, ongoing disputes, or the need to monitor his future earnings under the contractual duty to mitigate PSU contract language - both parties negotiated a settlement of $9 million, which Franklin accepted as final payment. This allowed him to start fresh at Virginia Tech without financial ties to Penn State lingering.