James Franklin outlines the hiring process of Penn State football DC Tom Allen to Joel Klatt

The process of hiring a new coach can be lengthy and stressful for any college football program. But even more so, for the Penn State football team as losing Manny Diaz to Duke was a tough pill to swallow. Regardless, the Nittany Lions and James Franklin were able to move on with former Indiana head coach Tom Allen. In the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show Franklin explained to the FOX analyst how Allen and Franklin connected.

The hiring process was a seamless process from the outside looking in for Penn State football defensive coordinator Tom Allen. However, there are behind-the-scenes details that you would never learn without the context provided by head coach James Franklin. Recently, Franklin appeared on The Joel Klatt Show and discussed how the hiring of Tom Allen took place.

“So, Tom [Allen] comes in but it’s during bowl practice. You know we’re recruiting, it’s bowls, so you bring them in for the interview. We do about two hours at night, and I’m like you know, Tom, I need you to stay. Could you stay another night, and we’ll get together tomorrow?

“When I have time between practices and meetings, we’ll sit down. And he’s like yeah, that’ll give me an opportunity to be around the kids and be around the staff. That’ll be good. Well, that went on for a week, I’m not exaggerating, went on for like a week, two hours, two hours, two hours. But it ended up being really good because of where he is at in his career, he didn’t have to take the job.

“So, it allowed him to be really kind of strategic and calculated and allowed us to do the same. And I think by the end of it, he felt really comfortable, I’ve felt really comfortable…”

Allen and Franklin share coaching similarities

Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

While Tom Allen will have big shoes to fill in Happy Valley, stepped in for Manny Diaz one thing that he will not lack is energy and passion. Allen is a vocal leader and isn’t afraid to share his input with his players, which is something James Franklin can appreciate.

“He is very different than Manny [Diaz] which I respect and appreciate. He’s comfortable in his own skin and who he is. And he’s been great. He’s very relational as a leader, which is how I’m wired. So, that’s been good too.”

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