James Franklin is focusing heavily on high school recruiting at the moment, but there is certainly plenty of time he is spending on assembling his first coaching staff at Virginia Tech. His defensive coordinator hire is likely to be his most expensive hire after Penn State paid Jim Knowles around $3 million per year to come to Happy Valley last year, while also poaching previously fired head coaches as DCs prior to that in Manny Diaz and Tom Allen.
Franklin has embraced having his defensive coordinator truly be the 'head coach of the defense' and will likely look to do something similar with this hire. So who are some potential defensive coordinator candidates for James Franklin and Virginia Tech? Here is my look at some coaches who Franklin and the Hokies could consider.
Clemson DC Tom Allen
Tom Allen only spent one season as James Franklin's defensive coordinator in 2024 but it was an impressive one as the Nittany Lions ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, yards allowed per game, yards allowed per play, and rushing yards allowed per game.
While it helped that Allen inherited a very talented defense already, he was able to take advantage of the talent that he had and build the unit that led the Nittany Lions to being a late Drew Aller INT away from playing for a national title.
Allen also fits the mold of a Franklin defensive coordinator as a former head coach who can be trusted to be a 'head coach of the defense' type DC given his experience as Indiana's defensive coordinator. Spending big on a defensive coordinator has worked for Franklin often and seems likely in this case too.
Allen may be open to a reset after a 2025 Clemson defense that hasn't lived up to its hopes of being an elite defense this seasons. However, the Tigers are allowing 2.4 points per game fewer this season than they did last season despite having to replace some key pieces including LB Barrett Carter and S RJ Mickens.
While Allen doesn't seem to be on a hot seat in Death Valley, he may be open to rejoining a coach in Franklin who he has significant success with. Poaching Allen would also be a strong statement that the Hokies' significant increase in resources can enable them to land some big-time coaching talents.
We'll see if Allen ends up moving across the ACC to Virginia Tech, but he is certainly a name worth monitoring.
