Brad Franz is entering his tenth year as the Ranger’s Director of Athletics.
Under his direction, the Ranger athletic department has seen major stability and has made steady progress in all sports as transitioning from NAIA to NCAA D2. The athletic teams had an impressive academic year with over a 3.14 GPA in the spring 2024 and a 3.14 GPA in the fall of 2024 semester, making this the 16th semester in the past 10 years above a 3.00. The Rangers had 102 student-athletes make the D2 Athletic Directors Association All-Academic Team for the 2024 year, which required a minimum of a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and the Rangers have increased that each year. Also, the Rangers had 110 student-athletes make the 2024 GAC Honor Roll, which required a 3.3 cumulative GPA for the year.
In 2019, Franz led the drive to start Women’s Track and Field at the University. Women’s Track and Field has 56 team members led by the nationally recognized coach Jill Lancaster, who coached at the University of Oklahoma and Troy University.
In 2023, Franz led the drive to start Men’s' Track and Field at the University. Men’s' Track and Field will have 56 team members and be led by the Derrick Young who has coached at the multiple D2 Universities throughout the country with much success.
Franz was named the Donovan Reichenberger Fundraising Award winner in 2018 and in 2022. Under Franz, the Athletic department has finalized the renovation of Percefull Fieldhouse; fundraised for and built a new 20 stall horse barn for the Rodeo team; fundraised for and completed the final renovation of the Dunning Performance Center which included housing two full length hitting cages and a full turf area for Baseball, Softball and Soccer. Franz has spearheaded the fundraising drive for the Rangers Hall of Fame in Percefull Fieldhouse providing a permanent home where all Hall of Fame recipients will be honored. This renovation of the concession area was finished in the Fall of 2021. In 2022 The Athletic department received a $500,000 gift from Ranger Jim Booth who was a student trainer in his time at Northwestern. The Rangers were able to completely renovate the training room and upgrade much equipment and also endow four scholarships for student trainers who assist in the training department. In 2023 Franz assisted in securing the donation for the new track for the track and field team built by the soccer field. This will allow the track and field teams a place for them to practice consistently. Along with starting the Men’s track and field, the Rangers were able to develop a lockeroom facility for the men’s track and cross country teams to go along with lockerroom facilities for the women’s track and field and cross country teams.
Prior to being named the AD, Franz was the head men's basketball coach during the 2015-16 season for Northwestern. In his first year as the head coach, Franz led his team to the Great American Conference tournament, marking the first conference tournament appearance since joining the league.
Franz came to Northwestern from Otero Junior College in Colorado where he served as the Vice President for Instruction, leading the institution in all areas regarding instructional issues for the institution.
Prior to his position at Otero Junior College, Franz was the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Northwestern from July 2006 to June 2013.
Before returning home to his alma mater, Franz was the Vice President of Student Services /Athletic Director for eleven years at Otero. Before to taking over as the Vice President, Franz was the Athletic Director and Men’s basketball coach at Otero for six years. In that time, he led OJC to unprecedented success not only in basketball but in all sports.
Franz coached the Men’s basketball team from 1991-1996 at Otero Junior College before moving into administrative roles there, but he remained a visible part of the basketball scene as a nationally-respected talent scout, providing coaches with reports on the nation’s top junior college and high school players.
Franz was head coach and athletic director at Otero from 1991-96, compiling an 88-56 (.636) record, while leading the school to it’s first-ever conference title and a pair of second-place finishes. His teams played in the postseason all five years, including two final four appearances in the NJCAA Region IX tournament.
The last three seasons of Franz’s tenure at Otero were particularly stellar. His 1993-94 team compiled a 22-7 record, the school’s best ever, and was ranked in the top 25. That team also was ranked No. 5 nationally in team defense.
His 1994-95 team was 21-9 and seven of his sophomores signed early with NCAA Division I schools.
During that three-year period, all 25 of his sophomores graduated from Otero and moved on to four-year schools, including 15 that played at the NCAA Division I level.
Following the 1995 season, Franz left coaching and moved into student services and athletics administration.
Prior to becoming the head coach at Otero, Franz was an assistant coach at Northwestern, The University of California-Davis, The University of Tulsa and Sheridan (Wyo.) Junior College. Franz was an assistant coach at Northwestern during the 1990-91 season, and a graduate assistant coach from 1986-88.
Franz earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern. He has a son Jordan, and daughters Cecely and Aleysa.
