University of Connecticut Athletics
Franks Named Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
3/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, CONNECTICUT -- University of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall announced Tuesday the hiring of Gerald Franks, a 34-year veteran of the football coaching profession, as the Huskies new Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach.
Franks’ experience includes six seasons at the Division I-A level and 28 years as a coach and administrator on the high school level.
Franks was the quarterback and wide receivers coach at the United States Naval Academy for six seasons (1982-87). He also served as recruiting coordinator during his time at Navy.
Franks has spent the past four years (1997-00) as the head football coach at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick, MD. He has also served as the Vice Principal of Calvert HS since 1993. While at Calvert, Franks earned state, regional and conference championships and garnered recognition as the 2000 Associated Press Maryland State High School Coach of the Year and the 2000 Washington Post All-Metropolitan Coach of the Year. Franks also spent four years (1988-91) as the head football coach and Vice Principal at Northern High School in Calvert County, capturing two conference and regional titles. Franks spent ten years as the head football coach at DeMatha High School (1972-81), rebuilding the program into the well-known powerhouse that it is today. He also spent four years as the head junior varsity football coach at DeMatha (1970-71) and Bowie Senior High School (1968-69). Franks also served as the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Football Classic from 1992-1998 and has coached in the Big 33 All-Star Football Classic and Maryland All-Star Football game.
"I think that Jerry is a tremendous addition to our staff," said Edsall. "He brings a wide variety of experiences to our staff, from the collegiate level, the high school coaching level and from the administrative level. I think he is a great fit for what we are trying to do at Connecticut."
Franks, 55, is a 1967 graduate of Frostburg State College in Frostburg, MD with a degree in Health and Physical Education. He earned a master’s degree in Secondary Education from George Washington University in 1968. He is a native of Bladensburg, MD. Jerry and his wife, Lois, have two daughters and four grandchildren.
Franks replaces Dave Warner on the UConn coaching staff. Warner recently took a position as the offensive coordinator at the University of Houston.
