Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU hires Carl Franks as cornerbacks coach
05/04/2016 | 12:00:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Saluki Football head coach Nick Hill has hired Carl Franks as the team's cornerbacks coach. Franks comes to Carbondale with nearly 20 years of coaching experience, and he completes Hill's first coaching staff.
"Coach Franks is the type of person and the type of coach that we were looking for," Hill said. "He was a great player and coach under Coach Paulson at Montana. He knows the schemes, and he is looking forward to getting involved in the community. There were a lot of people interested in this position, and Coach Franks is the best fit for our staff and what we want to do here."
Franks began his coaching career in 1997, working at Montana for current SIU defensive coordinator Kraig Paulson. In the 19 years since, Franks has coached secondary and special teams units at every level of football.
He worked at Utah State from 2000-02 before spending six years as cornerbacks coach at Northern Arizona. There, Franks' secondary led the conference three times in interceptions and led the nation in picks in 2003. His pupils include Kevin Gerard, who had 19 career interceptions and was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, and Cyrus Igono, who tied an NCAA record for punt blocks in a season.
Franks coached at Western Illinois from 2009-12, mentoring Patrick Stoudemire, who was an All-American and played in the East-West Shrine game. Franks Leatherneck secondary led the MVFC in passing defense in 2010 and ranked second in 2012.
Franks has also spent time in professional football, coaching for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 2013 and earning a Coaching Fellowship with the Tennessee Titans in 2003. Franks spent the last two seasons at Warhill High School in Williamsburg, Va.
Franks played under Paulson at Montana from 1991-93, earning All-Big Sky honors twice and the team's Golden Helmet Award for hardest hitter twice, as well. Franks and Paulson teamed up for three conference titles at Montana, two while coaching together. With the hire, Hill's first coaching staff is complete.
"These are great people and great coaches on paper, but they've exceeded expectations," Hill said. "It's fun to come to work every day with these hard-working recruiters. We have put together a great staff."
