Tengwell says it was not pressure from ADIDAS that caused the firing.
Kraft said that as well today. BTW, Kraft put on a great performance at today's presser as did Terry Smith.
Athletic director Pat Kraft walked into Beaver Stadium’s press room with a serious look on his face. He then took the stand in front of a packed house for his first public appearance since James Franklin’s firing.
Kraft started by giving his gratitude to Franklin for what he’s done for Penn State. He then spoke on why Franklin was fired and what’s next for Penn State as interim coach Terry Smith takes over for the rest of the season.
Here’s more on what Kraft said.
Why James Franklin was fired
Penn State was off to a 3-3 start to 2025 with losses to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern in the last three weeks. The team had national championship aspirations heading into the year, but now those chances are out of the picture.
Kraft said those standards were a part of firing Franklin.
“My job is to evaluate everything and make hard decisions for what is in the best interest of our athletes, our program and our department,” Kraft said. “Football is our backbone. We have invested at the highest level with that, with that, comes high expectations. Ultimately, I believe a new leader can help us win a national championship, and now is the right time for this change.”
Kraft said it was a long 48 hours since the ending of the Northwestern game. While he mentioned he was always prepared to make this decision, he also felt it was the best choice for the team moving forward.
“I felt after Saturday and sitting down and looking at everything that where we were and what was in the best interest of my (student-athletes) and where the program was going that this time, we just had to make the hard decision,” Kraft said.
The coaching search
Toward the end of his opening statement, Kraft outlined what he’s looking for in the coaching search.
“Our next coach will be someone who embodies everything Penn State stands for integrity, accountability, toughness, humility and an elite motivator,” Kraft said. “We'll find a coach who can achieve excellence at the highest level, doing it with confidence and conviction.”
Kraft said he wants to keep recruiting as a “pillar” at Penn State. He envisions Happy Valley as a destination school that’ll attract “elite talent.”
That all highlights what Kraft wants to see in Penn State’s program moving forward.
“This is also about the modern era of college football,” Kraft said. “Our next coach needs to be able to maximize elite level resources, attack the transfer portal and develop at the highest level.”
Terry Smith
The Nittany Lions will continue this season with Terry Smith as interim head coach. Kraft said he was comfortable with Smith taking the role due to one key aspect.
“Terry's an elite recruiter,” Kraft said. “Terry has relationships with those kids, and Terry and I first, you know, we talked about many things that are a part of it, and we've got to continue. I think what we will show is that what we're big, we're such a big and historical program that we are going to weather the storm.”
Kraft said “every” Power Four team has reached out to Penn State’s players, but he feels Smith can help with roster retention.
Kraft also said Smith is an option in the search for the Nittany Lions’ next head coach.
“Everybody's under consideration, and I'm going to help Terry do everything he can to run the table,” Kraft said. “But yes, he will be considered a candidate.”
Franklin’s buyout
Kraft declined to dive into the specifics of Franklin’s buyout, but he made clear that the athletics department is taking on the full cost and not the institution.
According to ESPN, Franklin’s buyout is set to be more than $49 million. Franklin was in Year 4 of a 10-year contract he signed in 2021.
