James Franklin brought a former Penn State assistant coach with him to Virginia Tech to serve as offensive coordinator, hiring Ty Howle on Tuesday, according to several reports.
Howle had worked on Franklin’s staff at Penn State since 2020, when he joined as an analyst. He’s also a Penn State alum, having played offensive line for the Nittany Lions from 2009-13.
Howle, 34, became the Nittany Lions’ tight ends coach in 2021 and added co-offensive coordinator to his job titles beginning in 2022.
He previously spent four seasons on the offensive coaching staff at FCS Western Illinois.
Despite a disappointing campaign that led to Franklin’s midseason dismissal, Penn State still averaged 31.8 points per game in 2025, which tied for 36th in FBS.
The hire follows another Franklin flip from Penn State last week, when four-star quarterback prospect Troy Huhn became the most high-profile player in the Class of 2026 to change his commitment from the Nittany Lions to the Hokies.
