Browns coaching search: Penn State to interview James Franklin per reports
By Peter Smith
Nov 16, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach James Franklin waves to fans as he departs the field after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 22-6 during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Hear Penn State’s interest in James Franklin is significant. He’s coaching tomorrow. He makes decisions quickly. Expect answer by Monday
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) January 3, 2014
A source has informed me that James Franklin will interview for the Penn State job on Sunday. http://t.co/myAKqPF07h
— CoachingSearch.com (@coachingsearch) January 3, 2014
One of the college head coaches that was linked to the Cleveland Browns job was James Franklin of Vanderbilt. According to multiple reports, Penn State has shown significant interest in him and Pete Roussel of CoachingSearch.com has gone as far as reporting the team will interview Franklin on Sunday.
Saturday, Franklin leads the Commodores against the University of Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl in a battle between 8-4 teams. Franklin is highly regarded because of his charisma, energy and acumen for the game. He has been mentioned as a possibility for multiple job openings, but this has been the furthest that interest has gone.
The Browns have also been reported to have interest in Auburn head coach Guz Malzahn and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. Stoops has been playing coy with the media over this interest in multiple situations where he has been asked about the Browns and the NFL as a whole.