College Football is kinda big business these days. It’s not just about the players. The head coaches are getting paid ridiculously well, too. I mean, no doubt there are some instances when college football coaches are the highest-paid public employees in their respective states. And let’s be real: Penn State isn’t exactly a slouch in the college football world. With James Franklin running the show, the Nittany Lions have been competitive in the Big Ten and looking like a force to be reckoned with.

Speaking of Penn State’s HC, he has been at the helm for the Nittany Lions since 2014, and trust me, they’re paying him exceptionally well. But it’s not just limited to his salary. They’ve made sure that Franklin remains locked in with the team for a long time. With a hefty contract and performance incentives, Penn State is all in ensuring they’ve got the right guy in charge. But how much they’re paying him? Guess you’re about to find out.

What is James Franklin’s net worth and salary?

First, let’s talk about the big picture here. The money stuff is working out pretty well for him, considering he’s been with the Lions for over a decade now. Franklin’s net worth is estimated at around $12 million to $25 million. There seems to be a big gap, but the head coach is doing pretty well for himself. Besides his mega contract with Penn State, Franklin’s endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Pepsi, and PNC Bank play a major role in his net worth.

Speaking of which, his salary at Penn State? A solid $7 million a year. Not bad, right? But wait, there’s more. If we factor in all the bonuses and performance incentives, the head coach is making roughly around $8.5 million a year. Of course, it usually depends on how the season works out for the Lions. Moving forward, Franklin is receiving $1 million loan every year after his contract renewal in 2021 for a life insurance policy.

When Franklin signed his contract extension in 2021, Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said, “We have made, and will need to continue to make, significant investment in our football program.” So, while his average annual salary is hefty enough, Franklin is stacking money in a bunch of different ways.

How long is the Nittany Lions’ head coach’s contract?

We’ve been hearing about the big contract for quite some time now, right? Well, after taking the head coach post in 2014, Franklin signed his contract extension back in November 2021. Penn State signed him for a 10-year-long contract extension with the Lions, guaranteeing him $8.5 million per year. Yeah, you heard that right. Franklin is staying with the Nittany Lions till 2031.

But imagine if things didn’t work out for him in the future and Penn State decided to part ways with the head coach. There’s nothing to worry about for Franklin because he’s the sixth-largest buyout among college football coaches. That said, if Franklin decides to leave the Nittany Lions, Penn State will owe him over $56 million. Pretty wild, huh? So, it seems that they’re committed to keeping Franklin around for a while.

And why wouldn’t they? I mean, under his leadership, the Nittany Lions are looking solid. Not to mention that he helped the team reach the Big Ten Championship game and appeared in the college football playoff in 2024. It won’t be wrong to say that James Franklin has got a track record.