(BCSNN) — Virginia Tech announced Friday that new head coach James Franklin has signed a contract worth at least $41.75 million over the next five years, a deal that runs through 2030 and reflects both the rising costs of elite coaching and the ACC’s evolving revenue model.
The former Penn State coach’s agreement is heavily backloaded, with the Hokies owing $6 million in 2026 and up to $13.25 million in 2030. The structure underscores Virginia Tech’s long-term commitment to Franklin as the program looks to reestablish itself among the nation’s elite.
Franklin’s contract also ties compensation to television viewership, with annual bonuses of up to $800,000 based on ratings. The incentive dovetails with the ACC’s new distribution plan, which rewards schools with larger shares of conference revenue when their games draw higher audiences.
Virginia Tech recently approved a $229 million increase to its athletics budget over the next four years, and Franklin’s deal reflects that investment. The school committed $9.5 million to his assistant coaching staff and another $6 million for supplemental personnel, including analysts, recruiting staff, and sports scientists.
Performance-based escalators are also built into the contract. Support staff funding will rise with team success, ranging from $200,000 for assistants and $125,000 for supplemental staff after six wins, to $800,000 and $575,000 respectively for a 12-win season.
Franklin emphasized the need for facility upgrades to match the program’s ambitions. “I’m going to walk the facility and make it very obvious that, these things are nice and first class, and these things are dated and problematic and we need to get them fixed and fixed fast,” Franklin told ESPN. “There’s work that needs to be done. But there’s also promises that have been made. That’s all of it.”
The contract also includes bonuses tied to ACC championship game appearances and College Football Playoff berths, aligning Franklin’s incentives with Virginia Tech’s competitive goals.
Franklin arrives in Blacksburg with a reputation as one of the sport’s top offensive minds and quarterback developers, having coached Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, and Cam Ward earlier in his career. His track record of program-building at Penn State and Vanderbilt adds weight to Virginia Tech’s investment.
The Hokies’ deal positions Franklin among the highest-paid coaches in the ACC and signals Virginia Tech’s intent to compete financially and structurally with the conference’s top programs. With expanded playoff access and new revenue streams, the school is betting big on Franklin to deliver results.
Virginia Tech opens its next season under Franklin with a non-conference matchup against Old Dominion, a game that will mark the beginning of a new era in Hokies football.
