Report: Two Key Penn State Staffers Will Follow James Franklin To Virginia Tech

On3 Reports that Kevin Threlkel and Andy Frank are likely to follow James Franklin to Blacksburg.

James Franklin waiting to be introduced at the press conference on Wednesday. | Virginia Tech Athletics

Well, it's starting to come together. The James Franklin era is underway at Virginia Tech and Franklin is already putting his staff together, at least off the field.

BWI's @SeanFitzOn3 reports that Kevin Threlkel and Andy Frank are following James Franklin to Virginia Tech as expected, and they aren't the only Penn State staffers moving on before the end of the regular season.

Story: https://t.co/fdAcKflK6V pic.twitter.com/obWi3bvUeL

— Blue White Illustrated (@PennStateOn3) November 19, 2025

On3's Sean Fitz has reported that Penn State director of player personnel Andy Frank and Chief of Staff Kevin Threlkel are following Franklin to Virginia Tech. They were both previously at Penn State with Franklin.

Threlkel and Franklin have been together for decades. They go as far back as Franklin's time as an offensive coordinator at Kansas State in 2006.

Virginia Tech made it clear that they will be hiring a GM for the program to help out with the administrative duties of being a head coach. Frank will likely be the one who fills that role, though you could see him in a different one. You could also see Threlkel take a part in that role, depending on how they divide up responsibilities and if they have more than one person in that GM role.

Fitz's tweet alone suggests that these aren't going to be the only ones who leave State College for Blacksburg. "They aren't the only Penn State staffers moving on before the end of the regular season."

We will have more here at VT on SI as the story develops.

Big Time Hire

Oct 11, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks off the field following the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

This is a big time hire for Virginia Tech.

Prior to Penn State, Vanderbilt University experienced a record setting transformation on the gridiron under James Franklin’s leadership from 2011 through 2013. In three seasons at the helm, Coach Franklin became the first Vanderbilt coach to guide the team to bowl games in each of his first three campaigns. In 2012, the Commodores posted a 9-4 mark, earned entries in both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Polls for the first time since 1948. The nine wins was most since 1915 and the five SEC victories, a feat not achieved by Vanderbilt since 1935. That same season featured the longest winning streak by a Vanderbilt team since 1948, the longest road winning streak since 1950, and the first home victory over Tennessee in 30 years. Coach Franklin followed with another 9-win season in 2013, including a decisive 41-24 win in the BBVA Compass Bowl, marking the program’s first back-to-back 9-win campaigns in school history.

“I’m honored and humbled to join the Hokie family,” said Franklin. “My vision is simple: to restore unmatched excellence, to build something that lasts, and to serve this University, the Commonwealth of Virginia and our amazing fan base with honor, integrity, and passion. I look forward to getting to work with our players, our staff, and the entire Virginia Tech community.”

Franklin coached 18 All-America selections, 32 national major award winners or finalists and 59 NFL Draft picks at Penn State. In his first 14 years as a head coach, Franklin mentored 116 players reaching the NFL ranks.

He reached 100 wins at Penn State in 2024, becoming one of seven active FBS head coaches with 100 or more wins at their current school (Kirk Ferentz, Iowa; Dabo Swinney, Clemson; Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; Kyle Whittingham, Utah; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Kirby Smart, Georgia).

From 2016 to 2024, Penn State was one of four teams to rank in the top 12 of the CFP final rankings at least seven times, joining Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.