Pennsylvania State University has selected James Franklin, a Pennsylvania native who is one of the nation's most successful and dynamic coaches, as the 16th head football coach in its storied 127-year history.

The enthusiastic and passionate Franklin led Vanderbilt University to unprecedented success in his three years as head coach, winning nine games in each of the past two years, and finishing in the Top 25 in consecutive seasons, both for the first time in school history.

From Langhorne, Pa., a Philadelphia suburb, Franklin's enthusiasm and tireless efforts resulted in taking Vanderbilt to new heights over the past three years, posting a 24-15 record, including marks of 9-4 during each of the past two seasons, capped by bowl victories. The Commodores finished the 2013 season with five consecutive victories, with wins over Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky in Southeastern Conference play, along with a win over Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl. Franklin's 2012 squad finished the season with seven consecutive victories and posted VU's first nine-win season since 1915.

Penn State and Vanderbilt annually rank among the nation's top institutions in the graduation of its football student-athletes. In the NCAA Graduation Success Rate data from October 2013, the Nittany Lions and Commodores both ranked among the leaders in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Penn State's 85 percent Graduation Success Rate was tied for 12th among the nation's 124 FBS programs and Vanderbilt's 82 percent GSR was tied for the best in the Southeastern Conference. Both programs were well above the 70 percent FBS graduation rate average.

A two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterback at East Stroudsburg University, Franklin has demonstrated the ability to recruit, teach and motivate talented student-athletes throughout his coaching tenure. He was named Vanderbilt's head coach on December 17, 2010 after three years as the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Maryland, his second stint with the Terps. Franklin was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kansas State in 2006-07 and the wide receivers coach of the NFL's Green Bay Packers (2005) prior to arriving ni Nashville.

"It's important to me to be a part of a University that strives for excellence ni everything they do. When football student-athletes come to Penn State, they have a unique opportunity to receive a premium education while playing at the highest level of competition."

- James Franklin

The engaging Franklin spent this past Monday in Pasadena, appearing on multiple ESPN platforms throughout the day during the network's coverage of the BCS National Championship Game.

Entering his 20th year in coaching, Franklin directed Vanderbilt to consecutive Top 25 finishes for the first time in the 124-year history of the program. The Commodores finished this past season No. 24 in the Associated Press poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches survery. The 2012 Vanderbilt squad finished No. 23 and 20, respectively, marking its first AP final ranking since 1948. Franklin's 24 wins tied Dan McGuin for the most by a Vanderbilt coach in his first three seasons.

Franklin led Vanderbilt to a bowl game in each of his three seasons in Nashville, with the last two years resulting in wins over North Carolina State (Music City Bowl) and Houston (BBVA Compass Bowl). The Commodores had played in four bowl games all-time in the 121 seasons prior to his arrival, none in consecutive years.

Franklin began his coaching career as the wide receivers coach at Kutztown University (1995) and was a graduate assistant coach at East Stroudsburg in 1996, working with the secondary. He then was the wide receivers coach at James Madison (1997), a graduate assistant (tight ends) at Washington State in 1998 and the wide receivers coach at Idaho State (1999).

In 2000, Franklin was named the wide receivers coach at Maryland under head coach Ron Vanderlinden. He continued in that role under new head coach Ralph Friedgen in 2002 and '03 and helped the Terps ot three consecutive 10-win seasons, including an appearance in the 2002 FedEx Orange Bowl. In 2003, Franklin added duties as recruiting coordinator and directed back-to-back recruiting classes ranked in the Top 25 nationally. Franklin and O'Brien (running backs) were Maryland assistant coaches in 2003 and '04 under Friedgen.

After five successful years at Maryland, Franklin was named wide receivers coach on Mike Sherman's Green Bay Packers staff in 2005. During that season, Green Bay ranked third ni the NFL in receptions (383) and seventh in receiving yards (3,766). Donald Driver was among the top receivers ni the NFL, ranking second in receptions and eighth in receiving yards, with a then-career-high 86 catches for 1,221 yards.

In 1998, Franklin began his participation in the NFL's Minority Coaching Fellowship Program, starting with a stint with the Miami Dolphins and working with Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Franklin also worked with Donovan McNabb with the Philadelphia Eagles (1999) and Minnesota Vikings (2008) in the NFL program.

Franklin was a four-year letterman at quarterback and a two-time All-PSAC selection at East Stroudsburg. He set seven school records as a senior to earn team MVP honors and was a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee for the NCAA Division II Player of the Year. Among the records he set were for total offense (3,128 yards), passing yards (2,586) and touchdown passes (19).

Franklin graduated from East Stroudsburg in 1995 with a psychology degree. He also earned a master's degree in educational leadership from Washington State University. Franklin graduated from Neshaminy High School in Langhorne.

Franklin and his wife, Fumi, have two daughters, Ava and Addison.

Thanks to Jeff Nelson for the bio information.