Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Football
Franklin, Tony
Tony Franklin
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Email:
- tony.franklin@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 898-2926
Updated January 2020
Tony Franklin, 5th season at Middle Tennessee
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Tony Franklin is in his second stint as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Rick Stockstill. Franklin, who was previously the Cal Bears offensive coordinator from 2013-15, is considered one of the top offensive minds in the business as his offenses have ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing, total offense and scoring numerous times.
PERSONAL
• Birthdate: Aug. 29, 1957
• Hometown: Princeton, Ky.
• Wife: Laura
• Children: Chelsea, Caroline and Caitlin
EDUCATION
• High School: Caldwell County HS
• College: Murray State, 1979, B.S. in History
Murray State, 1989, M.S. in Education
Bowl Experience
• 1998: Outback Bowl (coach)
• 1999: Music City Bowl (coach)
• 2006: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2007: Chick-fil-A Bowl (coach)
• 2009: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2011: Poinsetta Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2018: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (coach)
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2009/2016-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 22, 2016
• Recruiting Area: Lead for quarterbacks and national offensive talent
• In 2019, Ty Lee became the school’s all-time leading receiver and Asher O’Hara was just the second QB to rush for over 1,000 yards
• In 2018, QB Brent Stockstill was named C-USA MVP
• Under his tutelage, Brent Stockstill became the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions while WR Richie James ended his career as the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches
• Coordinated an offense that ranked second in C-USA and No. 8 in the country in total offense, averaging a school record 517.7 yards per game in 2016
• 2016 offense set single-season records in total offense, total yards/game, total yards/play, points scored, passing yards, pass attempts, pass completions, touchdown passes, total touchdowns, first downs and all-purpose yards
• 2016 offense produced a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in school history
• In 2016 he tutored two first team all-conference picks (WR Richie James and RB I’Tavius Mathers) and a freshman All-American (Ty Lee)
• Under his guidance, quarterback Dwight Dasher set single-season records in passing yards, touchdown passes, and rushing yards for a quarterback. Also set the single-game rushing mark for a signal-caller with 201 in the New Orleans Bowl.
• Offense generated 421.7 total yards and 32 points per game in 2009
• Set school records in total yards (5,482), passing yards (3,064) and total points (416) in 2009
At Cal, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2013-15
• Coached an offense that broke 12 single-season and school records
• Directed an offense that fini shed No. 3 nationally in passing offense and No. 8 in total offense in 2015
• Mentored quarterback Jared Goff, the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick in 2016
At LA Tech, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2010-12
• Offense led the nation in scoring (51.5 ppg) and total offense (557.9 ypg) in 2012
• Explosive offense scored 40-plus points in 11 games, and 50-plus points in eight games in 2012
At Auburn, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2008
• Coached the Tigers to a 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl win
At Troy, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2006-07
• Helped engineer the second-ranked offense in the Sun Belt in first season
• Collected two league titles, including the first conference championship in school history
At Kentucky, running backs (1997-99) offensive coordinator/wide receivers (2000), 1997-2000
• Led the Wildcats to the nation’s second-best passing offense in the 2000 campaign
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1979-96: High School Coach
• 1997-99: Kentucky (running backs)
• 2000: Kentucky (offensive coordinator/wide receivers)
• 2003: NIFL Lexington Horseman (Head Coach and GM)
• 2006-07: Troy (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2008*: Auburn (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2009: Middle Tennessee (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2010-12: LA Tech (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2013-15: Cal (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2016-Present: Middle Tennessee (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
*Also coached Auburn in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl
Tony Franklin, 5th season at Middle Tennessee
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Tony Franklin is in his second stint as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Rick Stockstill. Franklin, who was previously the Cal Bears offensive coordinator from 2013-15, is considered one of the top offensive minds in the business as his offenses have ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing, total offense and scoring numerous times.
PERSONAL
• Birthdate: Aug. 29, 1957
• Hometown: Princeton, Ky.
• Wife: Laura
• Children: Chelsea, Caroline and Caitlin
EDUCATION
• High School: Caldwell County HS
• College: Murray State, 1979, B.S. in History
Murray State, 1989, M.S. in Education
Bowl Experience
• 1998: Outback Bowl (coach)
• 1999: Music City Bowl (coach)
• 2006: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2007: Chick-fil-A Bowl (coach)
• 2009: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2011: Poinsetta Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2018: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (coach)
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2009/2016-present
• Date Hired: Jan. 22, 2016
• Recruiting Area: Lead for quarterbacks and national offensive talent
• In 2019, Ty Lee became the school’s all-time leading receiver and Asher O’Hara was just the second QB to rush for over 1,000 yards
• In 2018, QB Brent Stockstill was named C-USA MVP
• Under his tutelage, Brent Stockstill became the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions while WR Richie James ended his career as the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches
• Coordinated an offense that ranked second in C-USA and No. 8 in the country in total offense, averaging a school record 517.7 yards per game in 2016
• 2016 offense set single-season records in total offense, total yards/game, total yards/play, points scored, passing yards, pass attempts, pass completions, touchdown passes, total touchdowns, first downs and all-purpose yards
• 2016 offense produced a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in school history
• In 2016 he tutored two first team all-conference picks (WR Richie James and RB I’Tavius Mathers) and a freshman All-American (Ty Lee)
• Under his guidance, quarterback Dwight Dasher set single-season records in passing yards, touchdown passes, and rushing yards for a quarterback. Also set the single-game rushing mark for a signal-caller with 201 in the New Orleans Bowl.
• Offense generated 421.7 total yards and 32 points per game in 2009
• Set school records in total yards (5,482), passing yards (3,064) and total points (416) in 2009
At Cal, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2013-15
• Coached an offense that broke 12 single-season and school records
• Directed an offense that fini shed No. 3 nationally in passing offense and No. 8 in total offense in 2015
• Mentored quarterback Jared Goff, the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick in 2016
At LA Tech, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2010-12
• Offense led the nation in scoring (51.5 ppg) and total offense (557.9 ypg) in 2012
• Explosive offense scored 40-plus points in 11 games, and 50-plus points in eight games in 2012
At Auburn, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2008
• Coached the Tigers to a 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl win
At Troy, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2006-07
• Helped engineer the second-ranked offense in the Sun Belt in first season
• Collected two league titles, including the first conference championship in school history
At Kentucky, running backs (1997-99) offensive coordinator/wide receivers (2000), 1997-2000
• Led the Wildcats to the nation’s second-best passing offense in the 2000 campaign
COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1979-96: High School Coach
• 1997-99: Kentucky (running backs)
• 2000: Kentucky (offensive coordinator/wide receivers)
• 2003: NIFL Lexington Horseman (Head Coach and GM)
• 2006-07: Troy (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2008*: Auburn (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2009: Middle Tennessee (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2010-12: LA Tech (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2013-15: Cal (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2016-Present: Middle Tennessee (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
*Also coached Auburn in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl
A look back: 1965 and 1985 Undefeated Blue Raider Football Teams
Wednesday, September 17
MTSU Football at Nevada cinematic recap – 9/13/25
Tuesday, September 16
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 4 (Video)
Monday, September 15
MTSU Football Weekly Press Conference 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
