Track & Field
Franklin, Joe
Joe Franklin
- Title:
- Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
- Phone:
- 502-678-8459
Director of Track & Field and Cross Country - 2nd season
Team Accomplishments at Louisville
• Led the Louisville women to a third-place finish at the 2025 ACC Indoor Championships, matching the best finish in program history
• Guided the women's team to a 17th-place finish and the men's team to a 23rd-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, the first time in school history that both teams posted top-25 finishes at the national championship meet
Athlete Honors at Louisville
• 1 NCAA Champion
• 19 USTFCCCA All-Americans (5 Indoor, 14 Outdoor)
• 26 NCAA Championships Qualifications (1 Cross Country, 6 Indoor, 19 Outdoor)
• 8 ACC Conference Champions (3 Indoor, 5 Outdoor)
• 55 All-ACC Selections (1 Cross Country, 26 Indoor, 28 Outdoor)
• 41 NCAA East Regional Qualifications
• 30 Program Records
• 14 Freshman Records
• 3 ACC Performers of the Year
• 3 USTFCCCA Southeast Regional Performers of the Year
• 1 Olympian
Franklin Year-by-Year Postseason Record
Joe Franklin, three-time national cross country coach of the year and architect of two national champion cross country teams, was named the University of Louisville’s Director of Track & Field and Cross Country on June 16, 2023.
Over the course of Franklin's time at the helm of the Louisville program, the Cardinals have earned one individual NCAA title, 19 USTFCCCA All-American honors, 26 NCAA Championships qualifications, eight individual ACC titles, 55 All-ACC selections, 41 NCAA Regionals bids, 30 program records, and 14 freshman records.
2024-25
Cross Country
The 2024 cross country season was headlined by Geoffrey Kirwa, who began his Louisville career by becoming the first Louisville male to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships since 2016. To punch his ticket to the national championship meet, the freshman placed seventh overall at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships on his way to All-Region distinction, while Rylee Penn also earned All-Region honors with a 25th-place finish in the women's 6K to lead the Louisville women to a seventh-place finish at the meet, their best team finish since 2017. At the ACC Cross Country Championships, the Louisvlle women were led to a 10th-place finish by Layla Roebke, who earned All-ACC honors by finishing 17th in the women's 6K, while the men's squad placed 15th in the team standings.
Indoor
The Cardinals earned three berths to the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships, where Jayden Ulrich (sixth place - women's shot put) and KJ Byrd (seventh place - men's heptathlon) earned First Team All-American distinction. At the 2025 ACC Indoor Championships, the Louisville women matched their best finish at the meet with a third-place finish in the team standings, and the men placed 11th. Ulrich won her second consecutive ACC title in the shot put while KJ Byrd became the first freshman in conference history to win the indoor crown in the heptathlon. Ulrich was then named the USTFCCCA Southeast Regional Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, becoming the first in program history to win the award, and Byrd was recognized as the ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of the season. Along with the two conference titles, the Cardinals combined for 15 All-ACC honors, including eight athletes who earned podium finishes. Under Franklin's leadership, the Cardinals broke 10 program records and five freshman records over the course of the indoor season.
Outdoor
The 2025 outdoor season, Franklin's second at the helm of the program, set a new standard for the Louisville program as one of the best seasons on the outdoor oval in program history, which culminated in an individual NCAA title in the women's long jump from Synclair Savage, helping her earn both USTFCCCA Southeast Regional Women's Field Athlete of the Year and ACC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year honors. With Savage leading the charge at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, the Cards set new program bests with 10 All-Americans and 12 individual NCAA qualifications. Savage, Geoffrey Kirwa (second place - men's 3000m steeplechase), KJ Byrd (fourth place - men's decathlon), and Jayden Ulrich (fourth place - women's shot put, seventh place - women's discus throw) were all named First Team All-Americans, while Ashley Callahan, Paul Kallenberg, Roman Kuleshov, Sharvari Parulekar, and Jade Whitfield each earned Second Team All-American laurels. In the team standings, the Louisville women placed 17th with 17 points and the Louisville men finished in a tie for 23rd with 13 points, marking the first time in program history that both the men's and women's squads have placed in the top 25 at the outdoor national championship meet.
The Louisville women also made history at the ACC Outdoor Championships after finishing as the conference runner-up with a total of 89 points, while the men's squad finished 8th. Ulrich defended her ACC titles in both the women's shot put and discus throw (breaking her own discus meet record in the process) to score 20 points for the Cardinals and earn Women's Field MVP honors for the meet, becoming the first Cardinal to win the award since 2016, while Kallenberg captured an ACC title of his own in the men's decathlon. Over the course of the competition, Louisville athletes combined for 20 All-ACC honors with 15 individual podium finishes. The Louisville women's squad also achieved their highest national weekly ranking in program history during the seaosn, climbing to as high as 11th while holding a spot in the top 25 for all 10 weeks of the outdoor season.
During the outdoor campaign, the Cardinals set 12 new program records and five freshman records, while Ulrich (discus throw) and Kirwa (3000m steeplechase) both moved to up to second in collegiate history in their respective events. The pair also became the first two athletes in program history to be named to a watch list for The Bowerman with Ulrich also becoming the first in program history to earn USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors on April 14.
2023-24
Cross Country
The 2023 cross country season, Franklin's first with the Cardinals, was headlined by a ninth-place team finish for the women's squad at the NCAA Southeast Regionals for their highest team finish at the meet since 2017, while the men's team placed 19th. At the ACC Cross Country Championships, the women placed 13th to improve off their 15th-place finish in 2022 and the men finished 14th as a team.
Indoor
The 2023-24 indoor campaign saw three Cardinals qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, where Jayden Ulrich placed sixth in the nation in the women's shot put to earn First Team All-American honors for the first time in her career. Trey Allen and Brion Stephens were both named Second Team All-Americans for their performances in the men's high jump, where Stephens tied for 11th and Allen placed 14th. The men's squad placed seventh at the ACC Indoor Championships while the women placed ninth, led by Ulrich's ACC title in the women's shot put. At the conference meet, eight Cardinals earned First Team All-ACC distinction and three more were named to the All-ACC Second Team.
At the conclusion of the indoor season, Cade DeWitt was named the ACC Indoor Men's Freshman of the Year, the first in program history to win the honor. The Cards set three school records and two freshman records. In the national rankings, the Louisville men held a spot in the top 25 for four weeks during the season, rising as high as 19th in the poll.
Outdoor
The 2024 outdoor season was headlined by Jayden Ulrich's qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympics in the discus throw, becoming the first athlete in program history to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games. After finishing second in the event at the USATF Olympic Trials, Ulrich earned 18th place in Paris, narrowly missing out on the Olympic final. The Cardinals qualified six athletes in seven events to the NCAA Outdoor Championships where three athletes earned All-American honors, led by Ulrich's runner-up finish in the women's discus throw and fourth-place showing in the women's shot put. With the 13 points scored by Ulrich, the Louisville women placed 22nd as a team. Ian Kibiwot finished sixth in the men's 10000m to earn First Team All-American distinction for the first time in his career, while Jake Burkey was tabbed Second Team All-American after placing 15th in the men's long jump. Ulrich also won a pair of ACC titles in the women's shot put and discus (while setting a new meet record in discus) to lead the women's squad to an eighth-place finish at the ACC Outdoor Championships, while the men's team placed 12th.
Over the course of the outdoor campaign, Louisville athletes set five new program records, including Ulrich's mark of 64.29m in the discus that set a new ACC conference record and moved her into the top-ten in NCAA history at the time, as well as a pair of freshman records.
2007-23 - University of New Mexico - Head Coach
Franklin came to Louisville after 16 years (2007-23) as the head track and field/cross country coach at the University of New Mexico where he helped bring the program to national prominence. During his time there, he directed the Lobos to two NCAA team titles in women’s cross country in 2015 and 2017 and a pair of national runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2022.
During his time at UNM, the Lobos registered seven top-four NCAA team finishes in the last nine years and produced 10 individual national champions including two in cross country and eight in track and field. The Lobo women placed second in the 2019 United States Track & Field Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Program of the Year standings following a fifth place showing in 2018.
Franklin earned USTFCCCA National Women’s Coach of the Year honors in 2015 and 2017 after guiding the Lobos to national championships – both staged at Louisville’s E.P. Tom Sawyer Park. The 2017 championship was highlighted by Ednah Kurgat taking home the women’s cross country individual crown in 2017.
Most recently, the 2022 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year piloted the Lobos to the 2022 Mountain West and the NCAA Mountain Regional titles. New Mexico went on to notch a runner-up showing in the 2022 NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championship after being ranked second nationally throughout the season, finishing the Championship with five All-Americans.
Throughout his time in Albuquerque, the Lobos amassed 13 straight top-10 finishes in the NCAA women’s cross country championship, placing among the top four in five of the last six years. Overall, New Mexico has notched 31 top-25 team finishes across the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field programs. Along with the team accomplishments, UNM produced 72 USTFCCCA All-Americans who combined for a total of 173 All-America honors – 132 of which came in track and field and 41 in cross country.
With Franklin at the helm, New Mexico captured 27 Mountain West team championships - the most of any team in the league. The women’s cross country program led the way with 15 consecutive titles from 2008-22 and the men’s cross country team won six straight of their own from 2009-14. The women’s track and field program notched a pair of indoor championships while the men’s indoor team swept the indoor and outdoor crowns in 2014, and also claimed indoor titles in 2013 and 2015.
In addition to the Mountain West team championships, the Lobos also earned a total of 187 individual conference titles including nine in women’s cross country, three in men’s cross country, 36 in women’s indoor, 50 in men’s indoor, 32 in women’s outdoor and 57 in men’s outdoor.
Franklin’s student-athletes also found success internationally, with several becoming Olympians following their time at UNM. At the Tokyo Games in 2021, Courtney Frerichs and Adva Cohen competed in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase, with Frerichs earning the silver medal, while Josh Kerr also found his way onto the podium, collecting the bronze in the Men’s 1500m.
1994-2007 - Butler University - Head Coach
Prior to his stint at New Mexico, Franklin spent 13 years (1994-2007) as the head cross country and track and field coach at Butler University, guiding the Bulldogs into national contention. During his tenure, the Bulldogs sent eight teams (six men’s, two women’s) to the NCAA Cross Country Championships with seven squads earning Top-25 finishes between 1998-2006.
In 2004, he oversaw the Butler men to a program-best fourth place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championship and was tabbed the USTFCCCA National Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year following the season.
The Bulldogs sent a team to the NCAA Championships in five of the last six years that Franklin was at the helm and dominated the Horizon League in cross country with the men winning nine straight conference titles and the women capturing five consecutive league championships.
In the Franklin era, Butler athletes earned track and field or cross country All-America honors nine times with Victoria Mitchell winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase national title in 2005.
In addition to his national coach of the year accolades, Franklin has collected numerous awards throughout his storied career including 11 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Coach of the Year honors to go along with 25 Mountain West Coach of the Year honors at New Mexico. He was also tabbed the Horizon League Coach of the Year 19 times while at Butler.
Student-athletes under Franklin’s direction have also excelled in the classroom with his 2015 and 2017 squads garnering NCAA Division I Scholar Team of the Year honors. The Lobos earned 14 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognitions throughout his time there. Two New Mexico student-athletes, Ednah Kurgat and Weini Kelati, earned the Honda Sport Award for Women’s Cross Country. During his tenure at Butler, Fraser Thompson earned Rhodes Scholar distinction.
1991-92 - DePauw University - Head Coach
1992-94 - Purdue University - Assistant Coach
Before his time at Butler, Franklin served as an assistant men’s cross country and track and field coach at Purdue from 1992-94. He began his coaching career as the head coach at DePauw University from 1991-92 and was named the conference coach of the year.
Personal
A native of Greencastle, Ind., Franklin was a four-year letterwinner in track at Purdue University and a two-time all-Big 10 Conference honoree in the 800 finishing second in 1989, and third in 1991. He received his bachelor’s degree in professional writing in 1991 and his master’s degree in education administration in 1994, both from Purdue. Franklin and his wife, Melinda, have a son, Elijah.
Joe Franklin File
Hometown: Greencastle, Ind.
Alma Mater: Purdue ‘91
Collegiate Athletic Experience: Purdue (middle-distance: 1986-91)
University of New Mexico (2007-2023)
Head Men’s and Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Coach
• Two-time USTFCCCA National Women’s Coach of the Year (2015, 2017)
- Women's Cross Country teams won NCAA titles in 2015 and 2017
• Five-time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (2010, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2022)
• 2010 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year
• Three-time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2013, 2014, 2015)
• USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2014)
• USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year (2010)
• 14-time Mountain West Cross Country Women’s Coach of the Year (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
• Five-time Mountain West Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
• Two-time Mountain West Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2014, 2015)
• Three-time Mountain West Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2013, 2014, 2015)
Butler University (1994-2007)
Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
• USTFCCCA National Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (2004)
• USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (1998)
• 19-time Horizon League Coach of the Year
Purdue University (1992-94)
Asst. Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
1991-92: DePauw University
Head Cross Country Coach
Conference coach of the year
NCAA Champions Under Joe Franklin
At New Mexico
Outdoor Track & Field
Courtney Frerichs (2016 Women’s Steeplechase)
Weini Kelati (2019 Women’s 10,000m)
Josh Kerr (2017 Men’s 1500m)
Indoor Track & Field
Lee Emanuel (2009 Men’s Mile)
Lee Emanuel (2010 Men’s Mile)
Kendall Spencer (2012 Men’s Long Jump)
Josh Kerr (2017 Men’s Mile)
Josh Kerr (2018 Men’s Mile)
Cross Country
Ednah Kurgat (2017)
Weini Kelati (2019)
At Butler
Outdoor Track & Field
Victoria Mitchell (2005 Women’s Steeplechase)
Team Accomplishments at Louisville
• Led the Louisville women to a third-place finish at the 2025 ACC Indoor Championships, matching the best finish in program history
• Guided the women's team to a 17th-place finish and the men's team to a 23rd-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, the first time in school history that both teams posted top-25 finishes at the national championship meet
Athlete Honors at Louisville
• 1 NCAA Champion
• 19 USTFCCCA All-Americans (5 Indoor, 14 Outdoor)
• 26 NCAA Championships Qualifications (1 Cross Country, 6 Indoor, 19 Outdoor)
• 8 ACC Conference Champions (3 Indoor, 5 Outdoor)
• 55 All-ACC Selections (1 Cross Country, 26 Indoor, 28 Outdoor)
• 41 NCAA East Regional Qualifications
• 30 Program Records
• 14 Freshman Records
• 3 ACC Performers of the Year
• 3 USTFCCCA Southeast Regional Performers of the Year
• 1 Olympian
Franklin Year-by-Year Postseason Record
| Year | XC ACC Finish | ITF ACC Finish | OTF ACC Finish | XC NCAA Finish | ITF NCAA Finish | OTF NCAA Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Men: 14th (429 pts) Women: 13th (333 pts) |
Men: 7th (48 pts) Women: 9th (34 pts) |
Men: 12th (20 pts) Women: 8th (42 pts) |
N/A | Men: N/A Women: T-43rd (3 pts) |
Men: T-56th (3 pts) Women: 22nd (13 pts) |
| 2024-25 | Men: 15th (420 pts) Women: 7th (187 pts) |
Men: 11th (35 pts) Women: 3rd (65 pts) |
Men: 8th (50.33 pts) Women: 2nd (89 pts) |
Men: Geoffrey Kirwa (146th) | Men: T-50th (2 pts) Women: T-46th (3 pts) |
Men: T-23rd (13 pts) Women: 17th (17 pts) |
Joe Franklin, three-time national cross country coach of the year and architect of two national champion cross country teams, was named the University of Louisville’s Director of Track & Field and Cross Country on June 16, 2023.
Over the course of Franklin's time at the helm of the Louisville program, the Cardinals have earned one individual NCAA title, 19 USTFCCCA All-American honors, 26 NCAA Championships qualifications, eight individual ACC titles, 55 All-ACC selections, 41 NCAA Regionals bids, 30 program records, and 14 freshman records.
2024-25
Cross Country
The 2024 cross country season was headlined by Geoffrey Kirwa, who began his Louisville career by becoming the first Louisville male to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships since 2016. To punch his ticket to the national championship meet, the freshman placed seventh overall at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships on his way to All-Region distinction, while Rylee Penn also earned All-Region honors with a 25th-place finish in the women's 6K to lead the Louisville women to a seventh-place finish at the meet, their best team finish since 2017. At the ACC Cross Country Championships, the Louisvlle women were led to a 10th-place finish by Layla Roebke, who earned All-ACC honors by finishing 17th in the women's 6K, while the men's squad placed 15th in the team standings.
Indoor
The Cardinals earned three berths to the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships, where Jayden Ulrich (sixth place - women's shot put) and KJ Byrd (seventh place - men's heptathlon) earned First Team All-American distinction. At the 2025 ACC Indoor Championships, the Louisville women matched their best finish at the meet with a third-place finish in the team standings, and the men placed 11th. Ulrich won her second consecutive ACC title in the shot put while KJ Byrd became the first freshman in conference history to win the indoor crown in the heptathlon. Ulrich was then named the USTFCCCA Southeast Regional Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, becoming the first in program history to win the award, and Byrd was recognized as the ACC Men's Indoor Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of the season. Along with the two conference titles, the Cardinals combined for 15 All-ACC honors, including eight athletes who earned podium finishes. Under Franklin's leadership, the Cardinals broke 10 program records and five freshman records over the course of the indoor season.
Outdoor
The 2025 outdoor season, Franklin's second at the helm of the program, set a new standard for the Louisville program as one of the best seasons on the outdoor oval in program history, which culminated in an individual NCAA title in the women's long jump from Synclair Savage, helping her earn both USTFCCCA Southeast Regional Women's Field Athlete of the Year and ACC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year honors. With Savage leading the charge at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, the Cards set new program bests with 10 All-Americans and 12 individual NCAA qualifications. Savage, Geoffrey Kirwa (second place - men's 3000m steeplechase), KJ Byrd (fourth place - men's decathlon), and Jayden Ulrich (fourth place - women's shot put, seventh place - women's discus throw) were all named First Team All-Americans, while Ashley Callahan, Paul Kallenberg, Roman Kuleshov, Sharvari Parulekar, and Jade Whitfield each earned Second Team All-American laurels. In the team standings, the Louisville women placed 17th with 17 points and the Louisville men finished in a tie for 23rd with 13 points, marking the first time in program history that both the men's and women's squads have placed in the top 25 at the outdoor national championship meet.
The Louisville women also made history at the ACC Outdoor Championships after finishing as the conference runner-up with a total of 89 points, while the men's squad finished 8th. Ulrich defended her ACC titles in both the women's shot put and discus throw (breaking her own discus meet record in the process) to score 20 points for the Cardinals and earn Women's Field MVP honors for the meet, becoming the first Cardinal to win the award since 2016, while Kallenberg captured an ACC title of his own in the men's decathlon. Over the course of the competition, Louisville athletes combined for 20 All-ACC honors with 15 individual podium finishes. The Louisville women's squad also achieved their highest national weekly ranking in program history during the seaosn, climbing to as high as 11th while holding a spot in the top 25 for all 10 weeks of the outdoor season.
During the outdoor campaign, the Cardinals set 12 new program records and five freshman records, while Ulrich (discus throw) and Kirwa (3000m steeplechase) both moved to up to second in collegiate history in their respective events. The pair also became the first two athletes in program history to be named to a watch list for The Bowerman with Ulrich also becoming the first in program history to earn USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors on April 14.
2023-24
Cross Country
The 2023 cross country season, Franklin's first with the Cardinals, was headlined by a ninth-place team finish for the women's squad at the NCAA Southeast Regionals for their highest team finish at the meet since 2017, while the men's team placed 19th. At the ACC Cross Country Championships, the women placed 13th to improve off their 15th-place finish in 2022 and the men finished 14th as a team.
Indoor
The 2023-24 indoor campaign saw three Cardinals qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, where Jayden Ulrich placed sixth in the nation in the women's shot put to earn First Team All-American honors for the first time in her career. Trey Allen and Brion Stephens were both named Second Team All-Americans for their performances in the men's high jump, where Stephens tied for 11th and Allen placed 14th. The men's squad placed seventh at the ACC Indoor Championships while the women placed ninth, led by Ulrich's ACC title in the women's shot put. At the conference meet, eight Cardinals earned First Team All-ACC distinction and three more were named to the All-ACC Second Team.
At the conclusion of the indoor season, Cade DeWitt was named the ACC Indoor Men's Freshman of the Year, the first in program history to win the honor. The Cards set three school records and two freshman records. In the national rankings, the Louisville men held a spot in the top 25 for four weeks during the season, rising as high as 19th in the poll.
Outdoor
The 2024 outdoor season was headlined by Jayden Ulrich's qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympics in the discus throw, becoming the first athlete in program history to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games. After finishing second in the event at the USATF Olympic Trials, Ulrich earned 18th place in Paris, narrowly missing out on the Olympic final. The Cardinals qualified six athletes in seven events to the NCAA Outdoor Championships where three athletes earned All-American honors, led by Ulrich's runner-up finish in the women's discus throw and fourth-place showing in the women's shot put. With the 13 points scored by Ulrich, the Louisville women placed 22nd as a team. Ian Kibiwot finished sixth in the men's 10000m to earn First Team All-American distinction for the first time in his career, while Jake Burkey was tabbed Second Team All-American after placing 15th in the men's long jump. Ulrich also won a pair of ACC titles in the women's shot put and discus (while setting a new meet record in discus) to lead the women's squad to an eighth-place finish at the ACC Outdoor Championships, while the men's team placed 12th.
Over the course of the outdoor campaign, Louisville athletes set five new program records, including Ulrich's mark of 64.29m in the discus that set a new ACC conference record and moved her into the top-ten in NCAA history at the time, as well as a pair of freshman records.
2007-23 - University of New Mexico - Head Coach
Franklin came to Louisville after 16 years (2007-23) as the head track and field/cross country coach at the University of New Mexico where he helped bring the program to national prominence. During his time there, he directed the Lobos to two NCAA team titles in women’s cross country in 2015 and 2017 and a pair of national runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2022.
During his time at UNM, the Lobos registered seven top-four NCAA team finishes in the last nine years and produced 10 individual national champions including two in cross country and eight in track and field. The Lobo women placed second in the 2019 United States Track & Field Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Program of the Year standings following a fifth place showing in 2018.
Franklin earned USTFCCCA National Women’s Coach of the Year honors in 2015 and 2017 after guiding the Lobos to national championships – both staged at Louisville’s E.P. Tom Sawyer Park. The 2017 championship was highlighted by Ednah Kurgat taking home the women’s cross country individual crown in 2017.
Most recently, the 2022 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year piloted the Lobos to the 2022 Mountain West and the NCAA Mountain Regional titles. New Mexico went on to notch a runner-up showing in the 2022 NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championship after being ranked second nationally throughout the season, finishing the Championship with five All-Americans.
Throughout his time in Albuquerque, the Lobos amassed 13 straight top-10 finishes in the NCAA women’s cross country championship, placing among the top four in five of the last six years. Overall, New Mexico has notched 31 top-25 team finishes across the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field programs. Along with the team accomplishments, UNM produced 72 USTFCCCA All-Americans who combined for a total of 173 All-America honors – 132 of which came in track and field and 41 in cross country.
With Franklin at the helm, New Mexico captured 27 Mountain West team championships - the most of any team in the league. The women’s cross country program led the way with 15 consecutive titles from 2008-22 and the men’s cross country team won six straight of their own from 2009-14. The women’s track and field program notched a pair of indoor championships while the men’s indoor team swept the indoor and outdoor crowns in 2014, and also claimed indoor titles in 2013 and 2015.
In addition to the Mountain West team championships, the Lobos also earned a total of 187 individual conference titles including nine in women’s cross country, three in men’s cross country, 36 in women’s indoor, 50 in men’s indoor, 32 in women’s outdoor and 57 in men’s outdoor.
Franklin’s student-athletes also found success internationally, with several becoming Olympians following their time at UNM. At the Tokyo Games in 2021, Courtney Frerichs and Adva Cohen competed in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase, with Frerichs earning the silver medal, while Josh Kerr also found his way onto the podium, collecting the bronze in the Men’s 1500m.
1994-2007 - Butler University - Head Coach
Prior to his stint at New Mexico, Franklin spent 13 years (1994-2007) as the head cross country and track and field coach at Butler University, guiding the Bulldogs into national contention. During his tenure, the Bulldogs sent eight teams (six men’s, two women’s) to the NCAA Cross Country Championships with seven squads earning Top-25 finishes between 1998-2006.
In 2004, he oversaw the Butler men to a program-best fourth place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championship and was tabbed the USTFCCCA National Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year following the season.
The Bulldogs sent a team to the NCAA Championships in five of the last six years that Franklin was at the helm and dominated the Horizon League in cross country with the men winning nine straight conference titles and the women capturing five consecutive league championships.
In the Franklin era, Butler athletes earned track and field or cross country All-America honors nine times with Victoria Mitchell winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase national title in 2005.
In addition to his national coach of the year accolades, Franklin has collected numerous awards throughout his storied career including 11 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Coach of the Year honors to go along with 25 Mountain West Coach of the Year honors at New Mexico. He was also tabbed the Horizon League Coach of the Year 19 times while at Butler.
Student-athletes under Franklin’s direction have also excelled in the classroom with his 2015 and 2017 squads garnering NCAA Division I Scholar Team of the Year honors. The Lobos earned 14 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognitions throughout his time there. Two New Mexico student-athletes, Ednah Kurgat and Weini Kelati, earned the Honda Sport Award for Women’s Cross Country. During his tenure at Butler, Fraser Thompson earned Rhodes Scholar distinction.
1991-92 - DePauw University - Head Coach
1992-94 - Purdue University - Assistant Coach
Before his time at Butler, Franklin served as an assistant men’s cross country and track and field coach at Purdue from 1992-94. He began his coaching career as the head coach at DePauw University from 1991-92 and was named the conference coach of the year.
Personal
A native of Greencastle, Ind., Franklin was a four-year letterwinner in track at Purdue University and a two-time all-Big 10 Conference honoree in the 800 finishing second in 1989, and third in 1991. He received his bachelor’s degree in professional writing in 1991 and his master’s degree in education administration in 1994, both from Purdue. Franklin and his wife, Melinda, have a son, Elijah.
Joe Franklin File
Hometown: Greencastle, Ind.
Alma Mater: Purdue ‘91
Collegiate Athletic Experience: Purdue (middle-distance: 1986-91)
University of New Mexico (2007-2023)
Head Men’s and Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Coach
• Two-time USTFCCCA National Women’s Coach of the Year (2015, 2017)
- Women's Cross Country teams won NCAA titles in 2015 and 2017
• Five-time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (2010, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2022)
• 2010 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year
• Three-time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2013, 2014, 2015)
• USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2014)
• USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year (2010)
• 14-time Mountain West Cross Country Women’s Coach of the Year (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
• Five-time Mountain West Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
• Two-time Mountain West Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2014, 2015)
• Three-time Mountain West Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year (2013, 2014, 2015)
Butler University (1994-2007)
Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
• USTFCCCA National Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (2004)
• USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (1998)
• 19-time Horizon League Coach of the Year
Purdue University (1992-94)
Asst. Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
1991-92: DePauw University
Head Cross Country Coach
Conference coach of the year
NCAA Champions Under Joe Franklin
At New Mexico
Outdoor Track & Field
Courtney Frerichs (2016 Women’s Steeplechase)
Weini Kelati (2019 Women’s 10,000m)
Josh Kerr (2017 Men’s 1500m)
Indoor Track & Field
Lee Emanuel (2009 Men’s Mile)
Lee Emanuel (2010 Men’s Mile)
Kendall Spencer (2012 Men’s Long Jump)
Josh Kerr (2017 Men’s Mile)
Josh Kerr (2018 Men’s Mile)
Cross Country
Ednah Kurgat (2017)
Weini Kelati (2019)
At Butler
Outdoor Track & Field
Victoria Mitchell (2005 Women’s Steeplechase)
TFXC: Just Jayden
Wednesday, July 30
TFXC: The Last Jump
Monday, July 14
Joe Franklin Press Conference 02.26.25
Friday, May 16
2024 Track & Field and Cross Country Media Day
Monday, February 26
