Since taking the Penn State head coaching job in January, James Franklin hasn’t had but a few seconds to breathe.
From building team camaraderie, to recruiting, to coaching spring ball, he hasn’t even had time to look for a new house. He was staying in a Residence Inn for a little more than two months, but recently told For The Win that for the last month, he’s been sleeping on an air mattress in his office. With spring football work hours lasting from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. or midnight, this was easier.
“I’m not a sleep-in-the-office kind of guy,” Franklin said. “You hear about coaches sleeping in their offices. I’ve never done that. It’s just my family isn’t here and I haven’t had a chance to look and find a place.”
Eight of Franklin’s nine coaches moved with him from Vanderbilt to Penn State, and most of their families are still in Nashville. It makes sense, especially for coaches with kids who are finishing out the school year. But because they’re on their own and busy in State College and haven’t had time to look for houses either, several assistant coaches are crashing at offensive line coach Herb Hand’s home.
“It’s almost like Animal House over there,” Franklin said.
They probably don’t have toga parties though.