Who is James Franklin's wife?

By Jason Bolton May 01, 2024 19:06

Photo by current-affairs.org

James Franklin, the accomplished American football coach, is married to Fumi Franklin. Their love story began back in 1998 when James, then serving as the tight ends coach at Washington State, met Fumi, who was a student at the university at the time.

They reconnected when James was coaching at Maryland several years later, which eventually led to a long-distance relationship and their engagement in Green Bay in 2005. The couple now shares a blissful marriage and are proud parents to two daughters, Addy and Shola.

Early Life and Education

Fumi Franklin's early life is not extensively documented in available sources, but she attended Washington State University, where she met James, and later pursued a long-distance relationship with him while he was coaching at different universities.

Personal Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Meet the new #PennState head football coach and his family James Franklin,his wife Fumi and daughters Addy and Shola pic.twitter.com/leh1CZolUH
— Barry Reeger Photo (@blreeger) January 12, 2014

The Franklin family has been actively involved in charitable activities and community service. James Franklin's teams at Penn State have devoted significant time to service, including making annual visits to the Penn State Children's Hospital to spend time with young cancer patients.

Also, the Franklins have made generous donations to support THON, an annual student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer.

Their contributions include a $10,000 gift made in honor of football players Charlie Shuman and Nick Scott. Furthermore, James Franklin has been a strong advocate for "Be the Match," encouraging community members to join the national bone marrow registry.

Family and COVID-19 Precautions

The Franklins have faced the challenge of COVID-19 in their family life. Due to their daughter Addison's medical condition, Sickle cell disease, which compromises her immune system, the family made the difficult decision to live separately during the pandemic. James Franklin lived in an apartment above the garage of their home while Fumi and their daughters resided outside of Pennsylvania for safety reasons.

This separation, though challenging, was deemed necessary to protect their daughter's health. The family has since reunited, but James continues to maintain distance as a COVID-19 precaution, staying in a separate living space from his wife and daughters, despite being tested daily as part of Penn State Athletics protocol.

All in all, Fumi Franklin, the wife of Penn State's head football coach James Franklin, has been a supportive partner and mother, actively engaging in charitable endeavors alongside her husband. Their commitment to philanthropy, community involvement, and maintaining family unity during challenging times exemplifies their dedication to both their family and the well-being of others.