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Penn State's James Franklin named Big Ten coach of the year

After leading Penn State to a 10-2 regular season and a berth in the Big Ten championship this weekend in Indianapolis, James Franklin is the league media’s pick for conference coach of the year.

In his third season guiding the Nittany Lions, Franklin receives the same honor that went to former coach Bill O’Brien in 2012 and to Joe Paterno three times in 1994, 2005 and 2008.

Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst, who spent three seasons at Pitt from 2012-14, was the conference coaches’ pick for coach of the year.

Penn State also had one all-conference first-team selection by league coaches in junior kicker Tyler Davis, who was a second-team choice by the media.