Former Wisconsin quarterback Danny O’Brien is expected to join James Franklin’s coaching staff at Virginia Tech, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
O’Brien, who played for the Badgers in 2012, had been on Franklin’s Penn State coaching staff since 2021. He began as an offensive analyst (2021-22) and was promoted to offensive graduate assistant in 2023. He took over as the program’s quarterbacks coach in 2024 and 2025.
Franklin was hired by Virginia Tech in November after being fired following Penn State’s 3-3 start to the 2025 campaign. As is often the case, O’Brien is one of several Nittany Lions assistants poised to follow the coach to his new destination.
Looking back to O’Brien’s college days, the quarterback transferred to Wisconsin from Maryland ahead of the 2012 season. He entered that year as the Badgers’ starter, though he later lost the job to Joel Stave. He finished his brief Wisconsin career with a 60.5 completion percentage, 523 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
After six years of professional football in the Canadian Football League, O’Brien is rising in the coaching ranks.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Former Wisconsin quarterback to follow James Franklin to Virginia Tech
Reporting by Ben Kenney, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
