Penn State Football Coach James Franklin is the 2016 Sporting News Coach of the Year

John Donovan relieved of his offensive coordinator/tight end coaching duties

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 29, 2015 – Penn State head football coach James Franklin announced today that offensive coordinator and tight ends coach John Donovan has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately.

“I have tremendous respect for John and the work he has put in over the last five years,” Franklin said. “I wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

Donovan spent the last five seasons on Franklin’s staff as offensive coordinator at Penn State (2 years) and Vanderbilt (3 years). He also spent 10 seasons at Maryland (2001-10), serving in several roles, including quarterbacks coach, running backs coach and assistant recruiting coordinator. From 1998-00, Donovan was the offensive graduate assistant at Georgia Tech, where he earned his master’s degree in economics. His coaching career began as a secondary assistant at Villanova in 1997.

Franklin will immediately begin a national search for Donovan’s replacement.