James Franklin Met Wife Fumi Franklin At Pullman Campus

James Franklin wife Fumi Franklin graduated with a masters degree in educational administration before opting to become a homemaker.

Fumi crossed paths for the first time with her future husband at Washington State University in 1998. Fumi was a student at WSU, while James was the tight ends coach. It was not love at first sight, as the two only got to know each other three years after their first meeting.

By 2001, James had already moved on as a wide receiver's coach for the University of Maryland, having worked with Idaho State in between the two jobs. A mutual friend in Maryland reintroduced the two.

A devoted partner, Fumi is even more of a loyal fan of the Cougars Nation. Her love for the Washington football team runs so deep that she would wait outside overnight for front-row tickets to the game. The couple tied the knot in 2005 when James was the wide receiver coach of Green Bay Packers.

On May 8, 2022, the Penn State head coach shared a sweet tribute for his partner on mother's day. He shared the photo of Fumi hugging their two daughters as he said he was blessed to have a strong, intelligent and funny woman like Fumi by his side.

As the wife of the head coach, Fumi adjusted herself right to the culture of Penn State. If it weren't for the sacrifices made by Fumi, her husband's name probably wouldn't be written in golden letters at Penn State. 

The pair have done their best to create a family atmosphere at Penn State where they consider the football players to be equivalent to their sons and brothers to their two daughters. 

As James has to work long hours because of his hectic schedule, Fumi makes sure to visit him at Penn State Lasch Building. In an interview, Fumi said all the sacrifices the family has made feel worthwhile when they see James succeed at his job.

James and Fumi Franklin are parents of two daughters Shola and Addy. 

The Penn State head coach, James and his partner welcomed their eldest daughter Shola in 2007 and their youngest daughter, Addison, a year later in 2008. Though the football coach regrets not being able to spend more time with his two daughters, Shola and Addy are an understanding pair. 

In 2020, when the COVID-19 infection level was at an all-time high, the Franklin family had to take extra precautions as their younger daughter Addy, has sickle cell disease. James was staying at an apartment above the garage of their home to prevent contact with his family. 

In the scary situation, to lighten up the mood of his family, James would wear masks and stand outside the windows, which would scare the daylights out of his daughters and Fumi. He even requested his players to lend him customs and masks during the practice sessions. 

In 2013, Fumi and James, with their daughters, attended the Friends & Fashion luncheon and fashion charity event organized for the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital. 

Fumi was the guest speaker at the event, and her two kids were the models. Fumi said that the diagnosis had left the family shocked, but they collected themselves and began their hunt for the best hospital, which brought them to the Children's Hospital. 

It was one of the main reasons why James said yes to the Vanderbilt job. Fumi has previously stated that James keeps the tough personality of the coach onfield only as he is nothing like that at home. He is the sensitive parent out of the two and the more patient one. 

First dose for the Franklin girls! One step closer! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/xCf4OgcZjl

— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) May 15, 2021

After staying apart from his partner and kids for half a year in 2020, the football coach took to his Twitter to share that his daughters had been given the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

With the head coach not giving any hints of slowing down in his coaching career, James might have to make up for the lost time in his daughters' lives in the latter stage of his life. And who knows, the girls might take the same route as their dad and one day become athletes and that also of Penn State, giving them a chance to be closer to their father.