The University of Louisville has announced the appointment of Joe Franklin as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. Franklin, a three-time national cross-country coach of the year, will be leaving his position at the University of New Mexico to join Louisville. He will be responsible for bringing out the best in the student-athletes and build a successful program for the Cardinals. Josh Heird, the vice president and director of athletics at the University of Louisville, welcomed Franklin and praised his reputation as a world-class coach, man of character, and program builder.
Franklin comes with 16 years of experience 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 tenure, Franklin led the Lobos to two NCAA National titles in women’s cross country in 2015 and 2017 and a pair of national runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2022. In total, his teams registered seven top-four NCAA finishes in the last nine years and produced ten individual national champions, including two in cross country and eight in track and field.
Franklin’s hiring has generated great enthusiasm among athletics professionals. Many have acknowledged his brilliant coaching style being a driving force behind the program’s success at New Mexico. Eddie Nuñez, Vice President/Director of Athletics at New Mexico, thanked Franklin and wished him the best at the University of Louisville. Similarly, Dave Smith, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Oklahoma State, said that Franklin was a future Hall of Famer coach who has spent his entire career building championship-level programs.
Franklin’s student-athletes have excelled in the classroom and as Olympians as well. His 2015 and 2017 squads at New Mexico garnered NCAA Division I Scholar Team of the Year honors. He also coached at Butler University for 13 years before joining New Mexico in 2007. During his stint at Butler, Franklin sent eight teams to the NCAA Cross Country Championships with seven squads earning top-25 finishes between 1998 and 2006. The Bulldogs also sent a team to the NCAA Championships in five of the last six years when Franklin was at the helm.
Overall, the addition of Joe Franklin is expected to bolster Louisville’s athletics program and take it to new heights. His vast experience and dedication make him the ideal candidate to lead the university’s track & field and cross country programs. The athletics team is looking forward to the positive impact and success he will bring to the program.
