What does it take to be a coach at Penn State? How do the Nittany Lions rebound after disappointing men’s basketball and football seasons?
Penn State Football Head Coach James Franklin and Men’s Basketball Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry join The Sports Extra Podcast this week ahead of the 2021-22 seasons.
Franklin talks about getting fans back inside Beaver Stadium, recruiting from Pennsylvania high schools, and his separation from his family due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shrewsberry talks about taking over the Penn State program, how he pitches himself to recruits and the current players, plus what he learned from his time in the NBA.
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James Franklin
James Franklin, a 26-year football coaching veteran, was appointed Penn State’s 16th head football coach on January 11, 2014 and enters his 11th season as a collegiate head football coach. Franklin’s career head coaching record is 84-43 and is one of only six current FBS coaches to lead his team to a bowl game in each of his first nine seasons as a head coach. Franklin attributes his success on the field to the strength of his teams’ dedication to four core values: positive attitude, great work ethic, compete in everything you do and must be willing to sacrifice.
BIRMINGHAM, AL – JANUARY 04: Head coach James Franklin of the Vanderbilt Commodores congratulates Jake Sealand #13 and Landon Stokes #99 following a field goal against the Houston Cougars during the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legion Field on January 4, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) 
BIRMINGHAM, AL – JANUARY 04: Head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores James Franklin (center) celebrates with his team following a victory over the Houston Cougars in the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legion Field on January 4, 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. Vanderbilt won the game 41-24. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) 
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads his team against the Memphis Tigers in the second half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 7: (L-R) Head coach Michael Locksley of the Maryland Terrapins shakes hands with head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions before the game at Beaver Stadium on November 7, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 7: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions stands with Sean Clifford #14 and Curtis Jacobs #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium on November 7, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions congratulates Mike Gesicki #88 following a touchdown reception during the second half against the Akron Zips on September 2, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeats Akron 52-0. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – AUGUST 31: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on August 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the fourth quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Under Franklin’s direction, Penn State has finished in the top 12 in the final College Football Playoff rankings in four of the last five seasons, has earned berths in three New Year’s Six bowl games with two wins and won the 2016 Big Ten Championship.
Before coaching at Penn State, Franklin’s career took him to all levels of football.
2011-13 – Vanderbilt (Head Coach)
2008-10 – Maryland (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2006-07 – Kansas State (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2005 – Green Bay Packers (Wide Receivers)
2000-04 – Maryland (Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator)
1999 – Idaho State (Wide Receivers)
1998 – Washington State (Graduate Assistant/Tight Ends)
1997 – James Madison (Wide Receivers)
1996 – East Stroudsburg (Graduate Assistant/Secondary)
1995 – Kutztown University (Wide Receivers)
Before coaching, Franklin was a four-year letterman at quarterback and a two-time All-PSAC selection at East Stroudsburg. He graduated in 1995 having broken or tied 23 school records.
Why am I just seeing this now??
— Allie Berube (@allieberube) June 18, 2021
Let's go, @coachjfranklin!!! https://t.co/JOrCOXI1bG
Micah Shrewsberry
Less than one week after Penn State Men’s Basketball fell in the Big Ten Tournament, the university has hired Micah Shrewsberry as head coach. The Purdue Associate Head Coach has extensive experience in college coaching, multiple years in the NBA, and two years of head coaching experience.
“Micah was a name that immediately jumped to the top of our list with his experience in the Big Ten and the NBA,” said Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour. “He has had success at all levels and knows what it takes to develop a program into a consistent national contender.”
Purdue head coach Matt Painter, left, and assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry gesturs to their players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Rutgers, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) 
Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown talks to Boston Celtics’ summer league coach Micah Shrewsberry during an NBA Summer League basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, July 4, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Kim Raff) 
Boston Celtics coach Micah Shrewsberry shouts to his team during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, July 7, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) 
Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder, right with ponytail, is held back by assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry after the final buzzer of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. The Celtics defeated the Wizards 117-108. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) 
Boston Celtics assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry gestures to players during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) 
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, center, watches with assistants Jay Larranaga, left, and Micah Shrewsberry during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday, May 19, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) 
Boston Celtics coach Micah Shrewsberry shouts to his team during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game against the the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Shrewsberry spent the last two seasons with Big Ten foe Purdue University as the associate head coach. As the offensive coordinator, Shrewsberry helped lead the Boilermakers to a fourth-place finish with a 13-6 Big Ten record in 2020-21. Purdue finished with an 18-9 overall mark and earned an NCAA Tournament berth this season.
Prior to his time at Purdue, Shrewsberry spent six seasons (2013-19) with the NBA’s Boston Celtics as an assistant coach. During his tenure, the Celtics reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, including back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018.
Also in the episode
The Sixers are out of the playoffs after a rough Game 7 performance against the Hawks. Who is to blame? And is it time to move on from Ben Simmons?
Also the squad talks about Shohei Ohtani’s stellar 2021 season and upcoming appearance at the HR Derby.
Finally, Allie, Logan and Tyler talk about former Penn State and current Raiders DL Carl Nassib’s announcement that he is gay. Logan shines a light on the importance of acceptance in the LGBTQ+ community when it comes to suicide prevention.
Meet the voices behind the podcast: Allie Berube and Logan Reever. The Sports Extra Podcast is designed to bring listeners closer to the games, teams and athletes they love. The podcast will dive deeper than the hosts can go on TV.
The Sports Extra Podcast will release episodes every Thursday and will range in sports topics. The goal is to talk about national sports with a local flair. Allie & Logan plan to bring in guests each week to share their perspectives on sports.
You can catch The Sports Extra Podcast presented by abc27 starting April 22nd. The team drops new episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or right here on abc27.com.
