April 3, 2019 / Vincennes University’s Todd Franklin receives 2019
NABC NJCAA Coach of the Year Award
Photo
of Todd Franklin
VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University Men’s Basketball Coach
Todd Franklin is the recipient of the 2019 National Association of
Basketball Coaches NJCAA Coach of the Year Award presented by Wilson.
Franklin coached the Trailblazers to the NJCAA Division I
national title. VU defeated Ranger (Texas) 87-77 in the championship
game in Hutchinson, Kansas. It was first national title for the
Trailblazers since 1972 and fourth in program history.
He will receive his award on April 5 at the annual Hillyard
Champions luncheon at 1:30 p.m. EDT in the Marquette room at the
Hilton Minneapolis Hotel. The event is being held in conjunction with
the annual NABC Convention and NCAA Men’s Final Four.
The award is special to Franklin and it’s very meaningful since
he is being recognized by his peers.
“It’s an honor,” Franklin said. “The National Association of
Basketball Coaches represents all the coaches across the nation.”
On April 7 Franklin will be presented with an NABC Honor Award
for achieving 600 career coaching wins. He will receive the honor
during the annual AT&T NABC Guardians of the Game awards show in
Minneapolis. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. EDT at the Minneapolis
Convention Center Main Auditorium.
Awards are pouring in for Franklin.
He was also named Coach of the Tournament at the conclusion of
the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.
In addition to capping the 2018-19 season with a national
championship, the Trailblazers compiled a 34-2 record, were ranked as
high as No. 1 in the national poll, and won the District 16
regular-season title.
During the national tournament, Franklin earned his 600th
career win with a 72-60 victory over Odessa (Texas) in the
quarterfinal round. His career record is 602-138 in 22 seasons and he
has a winning percentage of .812. Franklin’s career record is 272-41
in nine seasons for the Trailblazers, and he also coached at
Southeastern Illinois.
He has coached VU to seven consecutive national tournaments, a
modern-day junior college basketball record.
Franklin was inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches
Association Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Vincennes University Newsroom
Vincennes University
Trailblazer Athletics
MARCIA MARTINEZ, Sports Information Director & University
Life Reporter
812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell,
VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY,
Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/newsroom