Graduates of Penn State Harrisburg saw a familiar face this weekend they are probably more accustomed to watching roam the football sidelines in the fall. Penn State coach James Franklin served as commencement speaker on Saturday. 

Franklin talked about how the members of the Class of 2017 could find success in life. He shared things from his coaching life and also interjected some humor into the presentation. 

Franklin told the graduates it is ok to stay poor while chasing your dreams. He said he is living his dream to be able to coach in his home state at Penn State. 

After back-to-back 7-6 campaigns, Franklin led the Nittany Lions back to the top of college football in 2016. They went 11-3, won the Big Ten and received an invite to the Rose Bowl.

PSU finished seventh in both major polls and Franklin was named the Dave McClain Coach of the Year. Prior to arriving in Happy Valley, he was the head coach at Vanderbilt for three seasons. 

Franklin guided the Commodores to consecutive 9-4 seasons and top 25 rankings. Before embarking on his coaching career, he was a quarterback at East Stroudsburg University. 

To inquire about James Franklin's speaking fee and appearance cost, contact the agents at Athlete Speakers by calling us at 800-916-6008 or by Starting Your Booking Request Now.

James Franklin Speaks at Penn State Harrisburg Commencement: