Penn State football coach James Franklin, who led Vanderbilt from 2011 to 2013, paused a family vacation to back his former school at the 2025 SEC Baseball Championship. Franklin made a surprise appearance inside the Commodores’ dugout during their 3-2 victory over Ole Miss at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Alabama.
His presence stunned fans as Vanderbilt secured its fifth SEC tournament crown. Franklin, head coach at Penn State since 2014, stood in full support of the Commodores during Sunday’s title game, reinforcing ties to his former program more than a decade after his departure.
James Franklin Shows Loyalty to Vanderbilt at SEC Baseball Final
Franklin, now in his 11th season as Penn State’s head football coach, made headlines Sunday when he appeared in the Vanderbilt dugout during the SEC baseball championship game in Hoover, Alabama.
The 53-year-old former Vanderbilt football coach interrupted a family trip to Destin, Florida, to support longtime friend and Commodores baseball coach Tim Corbin as Vanderbilt edged Ole Miss 3-2 to claim its fifth SEC tournament crown.
Penn State HC James Franklin approves of Vandy’s two-run homer. Franklin is in the Dores dugout today in Hoover. pic.twitter.com/ALdBz35fOD
— Pat Smith (@patsmithradio) May 25, 2025
“I was in Destin with my family, we checked the schedule, saw they were playing today, so got up early this morning and drove down,” Franklin told SEC Network. “Me and Tim have been very close since my first year at Vanderbilt. He was critical in Year 1, nobody knows Vanderbilt better than Tim Corbin. … He was a huge part of our success in our time there and we’ve remained close. He comes to a game typically every year up at Penn State too.”
Franklin coached the Commodores from 2011 to 2013, compiling a 24-15 record, including consecutive 9-4 seasons and bowl victories in 2012 and 2013.
His coaching journey continued in State College, where he’s led the Nittany Lions to a 101-42 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2024. Penn State’s season ended with a loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.
Franklin’s appearance Sunday stirred conversation across college football and baseball forums, as fans questioned his presence in Hoover. Yet for those familiar with his bond with Corbin, it was no surprise.
After the final out, SEC Network cameras captured Franklin embracing Corbin in the dugout, congratulating him on the win that secured Vanderbilt an automatic NCAA tournament bid. The Commodores are projected to earn the No. 1 overall seed on Monday.
Reflecting on Corbin’s impact, Franklin said, “(Would) sit down with him. Talk with him about Vanderbilt and the SEC. He was a huge part of our success there. We’ve stayed close.”
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Franklin has shown continued support for the baseball program since leaving Nashville. He attended Vanderbilt’s College World Series win over Virginia in 2014 and watched a game at Hawkins Field in 2023.
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