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| Franklin athletics file photo |
Franklin College athletic director Lance Marshall has announced today the return of Mike Leonard as the head coach of the football program.
Leonard, who was the head coach of the Grizzlies from 2003-19, carries a 129-55 career record and 106-20 mark in conference play into his second tenure as the leader of the program. He leads the program in all-time wins as a coach.
"We are beyond excited to welcome Coach Leonard back home," Marshall said. "With an exceptional track record of success and a deep commitment to building champions both on and off the field, he is the perfect fit to lead our football program. His passion, vision, and dedication will undoubtedly inspire our players and elevate our team to new heights."
During Leonard's first run in charge of the program, Franklin became a constant in the NCAA Division III playoffs, qualifying nine times and picking up five playoff wins. The Grizzlies' deepest run came during the 2008 season when they knocked off Otterbein and North Central to reach the national quarterfinals, finishing the year with an 11-2 record and a #8 ranking in the national polls.
More than 200 student-athletes earned all-conference accolades during Leonard's tenure with 12 players being named either league offensive, defensive, special teams or freshman of the year. Leonard himself has been recognized as the league's Coach of the Year on seven different occasions, the most recent coming in 2017.
Franklin's players have also been recognized on a national level, with 11 players garnering All-America awards from D3football.com with Kyle Linville '13 and Chase Burton '18 earning First Team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association. Linville, Austin Carlton '16 and Michael Parks '14 became the first three players in program history to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades during their time under Leonard's tutelage.
"I am extremely thankful to President Prather and to our athletic administration for offering me this opportunity again," Leonard said. "I am thrilled to be the head football coach at Franklin College once again. Since resigning back in 2019, I have enjoyed doing many things, but I realized that I missed leading a team toward a common goal while teaching and learning life lessons along the way. I look forward to re-connecting with faculty and staff, building a phenomenal coaching staff, and recruiting young men who want a first-class four-year educational experience."