NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams says James Franklin remains the Commodores’ football coach and Franklin has informed him he has not accepted another job offer. Williams later said he expects Franklin to be the school’s coach next season.
Several media outlets have reported Franklin has an offer from Penn State that he is expected to accept.
Williams told The Associated Press he has heard all of the reports and knows Penn State officials have been talking with Franklin.
“He called to let me know the reports that he had accepted another job were inaccurate,” Williams said. “And I didn’t ask anything more than that nor did he volunteer anything more than that.”
Williams said he met with Franklin on Tuesday night, spoke with him on Wednesday and again Thursday. As of 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Williams said Franklin “is Vanderbilt’s football coach.”
“If there is something that’s going to happen, I’m sure he’ll be in touch with us,” Williams said.
Thursday afternoon, on 104.5 The Zone Nashville, Williams said for Vanderbilt’s 2014 season-opening game against Temple, he expects Franklin to be on the sidelines.
Vanderbilt had only one winning season since 1982 before Williams hired Franklin in December 2010. The Commodores also had only four bowl berths before Franklin arrived, and he now has taken them to three straight bowls.
Franklin is 24-15 in his three seasons as Vanderbilt’s head coach, matching Dan McGugin for the most wins in school history over a coach’s first three seasons.