James Franklin explains process of hiring Tom Allen at Penn State

James Franklin wasted no time finding the next defensive coordinator for Penn State football. Only 12 days after Manny Diaz left the Nittany Lions to become the next Duke head coach on December 7, Penn State officially announced the hiring of Tom Allen to fill the role on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Franklin spoke to the media about the decision to hire the former Indiana head coach following Penn State’s National Signing Day festivities.

James Franklin: ‘Obvious’ traits led to hiring Tom Allen at Penn State

The hiring of Tom Allen as the next Penn State defensive coordinator is already receiving widespread praise among the national media. In a move described as “checking all the boxes,” James Franklin is getting an experienced defensive playcaller with deep ties to the Big Ten after spending the last seven seasons as the head coach at Indiana.

During his availability following National Signing Day, James Franklin explained the “obvious” characteristics that made him want to hire Allen at Penn State.

“First of all, I think the combination of being a defensive coordinator and a highly successful one,” Franklin said, in part. “When he was the defensive coordinator at Indiana, they were the most improved defense in the country. That was telling…This is a football guy who is still heavily involved in what’s going on from a scheme and fundamental perspective. That was obvious.”

Although he previously noted that he wanted a new defensive coordinator hired “yesterday,” today, Franklin explained that Allen’s unique circumstance allowed them to take time and make sure Penn State was the right fit.

“I wanted Tom to be very comfortable with what he was signing up for,” he said. “I wanted to be comfortable with what I was signing up for. And a lot of times, it has to go so fast because of your situation, because of recruiting, but then also, if the guy has a current job. That plays a part in it as well. This was kind of unusual, too, because he was out of a job, and it allowed us to really take our time on both ends.”

More than a “head coach of the defense”

It’s clear that James Franklin is following a similar mold to the hiring of Manny Diaz by bringing in Tom Allen. Allen’s experience both as a defensive coordinator and a head coach brings tremendous value and perspective to the Penn State football program.

“If somebody had head coaching experience, I think there’s value in that,” Franklin said of the vacancy last week. I think Manny’s time as a head coach was valuable. [Special teams coordinator] Stacy Collins has value as a previous head coach. I don’t think it’s the end all be all, but it’s helpful if we can find it.”

While he’s repeatedly described the defensive coordinator position as “the head coach of the defense,” today, Franklin noted that he expects much more from Tom Allen.

“I’m not looking for just a head coach of the defense, as a CEO role of the defense. I’m looking for a leader of the defense,” he said. “That leadership is not only the staff and the players and the fundamentals and the schemes. It’s all those things that are going to allow us to play really good defense, which we’ve done for a really long time.”

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