James Franklin rolled out the blue carpet for new Penn State Basketball head coach Mike Rhoades.

Rhoades arrived in Happy Valley, family in tow, the morning of Thursday, March 30, in advance of his introductory press conference as Nittany Lions head coach, and Franklin was among the first to greet him in Happy Valley.

In a video released by the Penn State athletics department, the Rhoades family arrives in the tunnel of Beaver Stadium, where Franklin greets them and shows them around the stadium that seats 110,000 fans as the video board offered a “Welcome Mike Rhoades” greeting.

 

.@CoachRhoades 🤝 @coachjfranklin #WeAre pic.twitter.com/ImeijMWQPC

— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) March 30, 2023

 

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In recent months, Franklin has been making a concerted effort to emerge in an ambassador role for the university and the athletic program. Franklin has been spotted in the front row of key Penn State Wrestling meets, and used his social  media channels to amplify support for various Penn State teams, including the basketball program.

Rhoades, a Lebanon Valley alum, arrives in State College after leading VCU to three NCAA Tournament berths and replaces Micah Shrewsberry, who departed Happy Valley for Notre Dame after leading Penn State Basketball to its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011.

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