James Franklin is in a unique situation after being hired as the head football coach at Virginia Tech a week ago. The former Penn State head coach can get a jump start on recruiting, evaluating Virginia Tech's roster over the final two games of the season, and looking for his next coaching staff.
It is likely that he has an idea of who he is going to target as his coordinators and assistants; it's just a matter of being able to talk to them and finalize deals, as they are most likely with their current teams. He has made some bold hires during his tenure at Penn State for coordinators and is not afraid to make a big move.
On Sunday night, one option that will be highly coveted became available when Chip Kelly was fired as offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders following a loss to the Cleveland Browns at home earlier in the day. Could Franklin look to bring Kelly on as his OC in Blacksburg? He should.
Ideal James Franklin OC became available on Sunday night after Raiders fire Chip Kelly
Kelly has been a successful head coach in college and as an offensive coordinator at Ohio State under Ryan Day. He helped them win the National Championship before making the jump to the NFL with the Raiders. Things didn't work out in Las Vegas in his first year with Geno Smith as his quarterback, but returning to the college game is a no-brainer for Kelly.
Think about Kelly calling plays for the Hokies next fall and beyond. He is an aggressive coach who mixes play-calling well and would be a welcome addition. Money should not be a problem for Franklin to lure him to Blacksburg after the investment Virginia Tech is making in Franklin and football for the future.
Kelly might also be interested in returning to college as a head coach with a number of priority openings still out there. Penn State, Auburn, Florida, Arkansas, and others are still open. Could Ole Miss become open sooner rather than later? His options could be endless, but Franklin's move to hire him would be a huge get as a high-profile hiring for his staff.