Brad Franz is entering his eleventh year as the Ranger’s Vice President 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 3.16 GPA in the spring 2026 and a 3.13 GPA in the fall of 2025 semester, making this the 18th semester in the past 10 years above a 3.00. The Rangers had 108 student-athletes make the D2 Athletic Directors Association All-Academic Team for the 2026 year, which required a minimum of a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and the Rangers have increased that each year including 102 last year. This puts Northwestern near the top of the GAC. During the 2025-26 school year the students had 187 student-athletes make a 4.00 GPA and had 3 teams finish in the top 5 national in their sport with team g.p.a.
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 Sterlin Broomfield who has coached who has led our Cross Country teams for the last 4 years.
Franz was named the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Donovan Reichenberger Fundraising Award winner in 2018 and in 2022. Under Franz, the Athletic department has finalized the renovation of Percefull Fieldhouse; Franz spearheaded the fundraising drive for the Rangers Hall of Fame in Percefull Fieldhouse providing a permanent home where all Hall of Fame recipients are honored; built a new press box for Northwestern Softball; built a new throwing cage for m/w track and field; fundraised for and built a new 20 stall horse barn for the Rodeo team; fundraised and built a second new 20 stall horsebarn and added lighting to rodeo outdoor arena; 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. 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 400 meter track for the track and field team; Franz led the push 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 (wife Kylie), and daughters Cecely and Aleysa (husband Dalton) and 3 grandchildren.
