Dalton Franks joined the Missouri State staff in August of 2023 as the team’s director of on-campus recruiting.
Franks also works with the Missouri State defense, a unit that in 2024 led the MVFC in sacks per game (2.58) and was third in the conference in tackles for loss (5.8). The Bears defense also accumulated 12 interceptions and 20 total takeaways as part of an 8-4 run in 2024.
He came to Springfield after spending two years at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph where he served as a graduate assistant with the defensive line from 2020-21 and safeties in 2022. His 2022 secondary unit finished 45th nationally in pass defense, giving up just 182.8 passing yards per game -- the lowest total in the MIAA.
In MWSU’s final six games of the 2022 campaign, the defense registered 15 sacks and surrendered just 164.2 passing yards per game. The Griffons had a seven-sack effort vs. Lincoln (11/12/22), the fourth-best single-game effort in program history. Likewise, MWSU’s special teams held its opponents to 50 percent on field goals (7-of-14) with Franks at the helm.
Missouri Western head coach Tyler Fenwick named Franks as the squad’s full-time outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator in June 2023 with primary recruitment responsibilities for Iowa, Nebraska and East Texas.
From 2018 to 2020, Franks served as co-special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas.
The native of Lewisville, Texas also has extensive experience at the collegiate level, having worked as a quality control coach at SFA from 2015-18. He worked with the linebackers, defensive line and cornerbacks during his time at SFA.
He holds a B.A. degree in History from Stephen F. Austin University (2018).
