Franklin came to Missouri State University in the spring of 2024 to serve as the Bears’ cornerbacks coach.
His debut in Springfield for the 2024 season featured a veteran position group that was pivotal in the squad posting 12 interceptions, 20 takeaways and the 21st-best turnover margin (+0.58) in the country. He also coached MVFC All-Newcomer Team corner Kaleno Levine.
Before coming to Springfield, he spent the three previous seasons at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond (2020-23). Prior to that, he spent the 2019 season working with cornerbacks in a defensive quality control position at Western Kentucky where he helped the Hilltoppers to a 9-4 record and a victory in the 2019 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
The Louisville native helped WKU produce a top-25 rated defense in 2019, as the Hilltoppers allowed just 20.1 points per game, which ranked No. 22 in the FBS ranks. WKU also ranked 24th in nationally in total defense with 335.5 yards allowed per game, and 28th with 200 passing yards allowed per game. ‘
During the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Franklin was the defensive backs coach and punt return coach at Arkansas Tech where he coached all-conference and All-America safety Cua Rose. He was at West Georgia where he worked with strong safeties (2015) and cornerbacks (2016) in two seasons as a graduate assistant. He helped the Wolves capture a Gulf South Conference championship in his first season and mentored two all-conference cornerbacks, including NFL free agent signee Marcus Sayles. In the spring of 2015, Franklin worked with EKU linebackers in a defensive quality control position.
A former standout defensive back at Western Kentucky, Franklin earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from WKU in 2009 with an emphasis in Technology.
He and his wife Ashley have three sons, Caleb, CJ and Cameron, and one daughter, Amiya’h.
