Episode 91- James Franklin on Leading with Core Values

James Franklin is one of the top college football coaches in the country. Since arriving at Penn State University in 2014, Franklin has led the…

Episode 91- James Franklin on Leading with Core Values

James Franklin is one of the top college football coaches in the country. Since arriving at Penn State University in 2014, Franklin has led the…

James Franklin is one of the top college football coaches in the country. Since arriving at Penn State University in 2014, Franklin has led the Nittany Lions to three top-10 finishes and a Big Ten championship. His journey took him from Division II quarterback to college coach, where he found unlikely success at Vanderbilt before taking on the challenge of rebuilding the storied Penn State program. On this episode, we dig into how he built trust in a tough environment when he arrived at Penn State and the ways his leadership approach has evolved over the years.

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Show Notes

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How his upbringing shaped the person he is today (2:21)
Why he got into coaching football while pursuing his master’s degree (4:32)
What fuels him more- the desire to win or the fear of failure? (7:28)
His approach to building community support and alignment when he took the Penn State job (9:00)
How he built trust and relationship in a tough environment (13:05)
Team building tips to enhance team chemistry (16:14)
The unique locker room setup designed to build connection (17:54)
The importance of consistency in rebuilding a program (19:00)
How to balance the need for structure with embracing change and flexibility (21:54)
Learning how to handle losses better (24:32)
The greatest leadership lesson he’s learned (27:22)

Resources / People Mentioned

James Franklin, bio
Penn State football
Saquon Barkley, NFL
East Stroudsburg University
Vanderbilt football
David Williams, Vanderbilt AD
Penn State Berkey Creamery
Keegan-Michael Key’s perfect James Franklin imitation

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