James Franklin already bringing Penn State staff members to Virginia Tech

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James Franklin’s 12-year era at Penn State is officially in the rearview mirror, and now, he’s taking the crew with him. Reports confirm that multiple key staffers are already off the athletics directory and on their way to Virginia Tech as Franklin begins his next chapter with the Hokies.

Associate Athletic Director and Chief of Staff Kevin Threlkel and General Manager of Personnel and Recruiting Andy Frank are the first two big names to dip. They’re not even finishing the regular season in Happy Valley. Both were with Franklin for years, going all the way back to Vanderbilt and Maryland, and played major behind-the-scenes roles during Franklin’s tenure in State College.

Threlkel basically handled the day-to-day business of Penn State Football. Budget, contracts, logistics — you name it, he ran it. He also served as Franklin’s main connection to the broader Penn State athletic department.

Frank, on the other hand, was the brains behind Penn State’s recruiting operation. He helped manage talent evaluation, roster planning, and the entire structure of how PSU built its teams. Losing him just before the transfer portal window opens is brutal. And that’s not all.

It doesn’t stop with Threlkel and Frank. A handful of other staffers have gone ghost from the athletics directory, which is usually a dead giveaway they’re gone.

Here’s the list:

  • Brett Arnold, Assistant Director of Player Relations
  • Chris Mahon, Recruiting Coordinator for Personnel
  • Rashad Erby, Assistant Recruiting Coordinator
  • Aeneas Hawkins, Assistant Director of Player Advancement & Revenue Sharing Strategy

That’s a lot of backend talent walking out the door before Penn State’s season finale at Rutgers. While interim head coach Ja’Juan Seider is doing his best to keep the ship steady, this mass exit could leave the Nittany Lions scrambling in key areas like recruiting and NIL management.

Franklin clearly isn’t looking back. By bringing over his loyal staffers immediately, he’s trying to set the tone early at Virginia Tech. But for Penn State, this is a crucial test. The search for a new head coach is still ongoing, and now there’s a leadership vacuum in key off-field roles.

With Rutgers up next and early signing day around the corner, timing couldn’t be worse.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Some Penn State staff have already followed Franklin to Virginia Tech

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