James Franklin
Head Football Coach • Virginia Tech (Hokies)
School Owes Coach: $35,000,000
Contract buyout as tracked by USA Today Sports: $35,000,000. (Took over Virginia Tech in 2026 following successful multi-year tenure at Penn State.)
Coach / Hiring School Owes: $4,000,000
If James Franklin accepts a position as head coach with another collegiate program or an NFL franchise prior to 2031-12-31, he or his new employer is legally bound to pay this liquidated departure penalty.
Job Stability vs. The Hot Seat
Pending Fan Consensus
Contract Job Stability is rated Ironclad Stability. Awaiting 5 more community vote(s) to officially establish the Hot Seat alignment.
Astronomical buyout penalty renders firing virtually prohibitive without extraordinary outside booster funding.
Hot Seat score requires at least 5 votes to show, only 0 votes cast so far.
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Interactive Amortization Simulator for James Franklin
Simulate Termination Date & Buyout Cost
See how contract amortization, date milestones, and mitigation clauses reduce buyout liability over time.
Duty to Mitigate (New Job Offset Analysis)
Contract Calculation Formula:
USA Today FOIA benchmark: $35,000,000. Proposed updates rejected due to lack of specific compensation and term figures in the provided source. Data reverted to the October 2025 baseline.
💡 By waiting 6 months, natural salary amortization reduces buyout liability by ~$3.40M.
- •Buyout settlement from previous institution completed
- •Multi-year term through 2031
- •Standard termination for cause provisions
Proposed updates rejected due to lack of specific compensation and term figures in the provided source. Data reverted to the October 2025 baseline.
Verified Public & News Reference Sources (2):
FOIA Verified: As an arm of state government, Virginia Tech releases employment agreements and board-approved amendments under public records legislation.