Coaching Career
Franklin began his career as a high school coach in 1979, including a stint at Calloway County High School where he coached Mr. Football in Kentucky Pookie Jones who went to play at Kentucky. He continued coaching in the high school ranks at other schools including perennial state championship contender Mayfield High School winning 2 state titles, until he was hired by Hal Mumme in 1997 to coach running backs at Kentucky. After Mike Leach was hired away by Oklahoma, Franklin was named offensive coordinator for the 2000 season and led the Wildcats to the nation’s 2nd best passing offense, as well as the nation’s 11th best team in total offense (445 yards per game). He helped lead the Wildcats to their first back-to-back bowl appearances in 15 years and their first New Year’s bowl game appearance in 50 seasons. During his tenure at Kentucky, Franklin was named one of the top 10 recruiters in the South.
In 2003, Franklin was chosen as general manager and head coach of the expansion franchise Lexington Horsemen of the National Indoor Football League, successfully leading the team to the playoffs in their inaugural season. The team led the Atlantic Division in scoring, averaging 53.1 points per game.
Read more about this topic: Tony Franklin (coach)
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“My ambition in life: to become successful enough to resume my career as a neurasthenic.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)