Vanderbilt names James Franklin as head coach

Vanderbilt named James Franklin as its new head coach on Friday.

Franklin had been assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Maryland. He was the head coach-in-waiting and was set to replace Ralph Friedgen as Maryland's head coach whenever the time came.

However, Franklin will take over the Commodores in the ultra-competitive SEC.

Franklin, 38, has never been a head coach. He becomes Vanderbilt's third head coach this season. Bobby Johnson unexpectedly stepped down over the summer and Robbie Caldwell resigned on Nov. 27 after a 2-10 season.