James Franklin, the charismatic head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, is a prominent figure in college football. His journey to success is deeply rooted in a unique and compelling family history. The story of his identity, shaped by his parents and his upbringing, provides a fascinating glimpse into the experiences that have made him the man and the leader he is today.
His personal narrative is one of blending worlds, from the interracial marriage of his mom and dad to the diverse cultural influences that shaped his childhood. Understanding his background offers a richer perspective on the coach who has made history on the football field.
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A Merger of Worlds: Parents and Ethnicity
James Franklin’s identity is built on a foundation of a beautifully mixed heritage. He was born on February 2, 1972, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, to James Oliver Franklin, an African American man, and Jocelyn “Josie” Franklin, a Caucasian woman from England. His parents met in Manchester, England, while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Air Force. Their romance blossomed in a time when such unions were less common, and they famously eloped to Ireland before eventually moving to Pittsburgh to start their life together in the United States. This makes James Franklin of mixed ethnicity, a background he has often cited as a professional asset that helps him relate to people from many different circumstances.
His father, James Oliver—whom everyone called Jim—was from a family with deep roots in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Coach Franklin has spoken proudly of his dad’s side, who descended from formerly enslaved people and worked picking cotton on a farm. He grew up surrounded by a strong network of his pop’s female relatives, aunts with advanced degrees who instilled in him the value of education and resilience.
Tragically, his father passed away in 1997. His mother, Josie, faced immense personal tragedy in her own youth, losing one brother to polio and another in a traffic accident after being hit by a bus. After her separation from Jim, she single-handedly raised James and his sister in Pennsylvania, with her first introduction to American life being immersed in the Black culture of her husband’s folks in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Josie Franklin died in 2007.
Family Life and Personal Identity
James Franklin’s immediate loved ones include his older sister, Debbie, who is five years his senior. The siblings were raised primarily by their mom after their parents separated, but they maintained strong connections to their dad’s extended family, spending holidays with them. This experience of growing up biracial in the 1970s and navigating life between two different worlds was formative. Franklin has described it as giving him a unique perspective, allowing him to feel comfortable and relatable in many different settings. An interesting personal detail is that he goes by “James” instead of the common nickname “Jim,” specifically because his mother wanted to avoid having two “Jims” come running when she called his father.
So, is James Franklin Black? The answer is yes. He identifies as Black and is a pioneer as an African American coach in college football. He made history as the first African American head coach to win a Big Ten Championship with Penn State’s triumph in 2016. He has also spoken about his goal of being the first African American coach to win a college football national championship, fully aware of the significance such an achievement would hold.
Today, Franklin is a dedicated family man himself. He is married to his wife, Fumi Franklin, with whom he has two daughters, Shola and Addison. His household is a central part of his life, and his role as a father is something he takes seriously, especially as his daughter Addison lives with Sickle Cell Disease, a cause he is now passionate about.
