Penn State AD Pat Kraft met with the media less than 24 hours after relieving head coach James Franklin of his duties.
Kraft confirmed that the search for Franklin’s successor is underway and that it will be a national search.
In his opening statement, Kraft outlined the qualities he’s looking for in the next leader of the and the vision guiding the process.
“Our next coach will be someone who embodies everything Penn State stands for—integrity, accountability, toughness, humility, and elite motivation,” Kraft said. “We’ll find a coach who can achieve excellence at the highest level, doing it with confidence and conviction.
“Recruiting will always be a pillar here. We want someone who will attract elite talent, retain players in the NIL era, and make Penn State a destination. This is also about the modern era of college football. Our next coach needs to be able to maximize elite-level resources, attack the transfer portal, and develop players at the highest level.”
Throughout his availability, Kraft repeatedly emphasized that the right candidate must be the right fit for Penn State, both culturally and competitively.
“They need to represent the toughness, blue-collar work ethic, and class that define this institution,” Kraft said. “We want someone who honors our tradition but isn’t afraid to evolve—someone who understands the weight of who we are and leads us forward with a vision of championships.”
Kraft added that the next head coach must be able to unite the fan base, embody the pride and tradition of Penn State, and pursue greatness without compromise.
He described Penn State as “the best program in the nation” and closed his remarks by highlighting the university’s ongoing commitment to excellence through major investments in football and facilities.
“We have made significant investments in this program,” Kraft said. “We compete in the best conference in the country, and we have the best fans and alumni in the country. With a renovated stadium on the horizon, I have nothing but confidence in our future and in our ability to attract an elite leader for Penn State football.”
