Joe Franklin Named Louisville Head Coach
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After 16 years of unparalleled success leading the New Mexico cross country and track and field program, Joe Franklin was named the head cross country and track and field coach at Louisville on Friday.
“It’s been a magical time at UNM from the day I got here in 2007,” Franklin said. “Our goal was to give our student-athletes increased opportunities in the classroom, on the track, and on the world stage and we did that. Now my family and I have the opportunity to go to the University of Louisville to start a new chapter in our lives. I’m very thankful for our 16 years in New Mexico, the life-long friends we’ve made, and the lives we’ve impacted.
“I certainly want to thank the UNM athletic and campus administration that have been incredibly supportive of our program, and throughout this whole process. I’m looking forward to watching and rooting on the turquoise at national championships in the future.”
During his tenure at New Mexico, the three-time national coach of the year led the Lobos to the NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championship titles in 2015 and 2017, and the national runner-up finish in both 2018 and 2022. Franklin’s athletes earned a total of 201 All-America honors in his 15 seasons, and he coached 10 individual NCAA national champions.
“Since arriving at UNM, Joe Franklin built a National Championship program that helped elevate the visibility of all programs at UNM over his time here,” said UNM director of athletics Eddie Nunez. “He has been one of the most influential figures within Lobo athletics and someone that I personally looked towards at times for guidance. His impact went beyond Lobo athletics, athletic and academic successes – it transcended into the university, our community, our state, and nationally. His commitment to raising the standards of the Lobo cross country and track & field program to an elite level will allow our program to continue to compete for national championships.
“I want to personally thank Joe for everything and wish him and Mindy all the best at the University of Louisville. The Cardinals are getting a national championship-coach and person. I have no doubt he will elevate the Cardinal program similarly to how he raised the stature of our programs here at New Mexico.”
New Mexico’s women’s cross country team finished in the top-10 in the country every season since 2010, including eight top-five finishes throughout Franklin’s career. Displaying complete dominance at the conference level, New Mexico’s women’s cross country team won its 15th consecutive Mountain West Championship team title in 2022, a streak that dates back to Franklin’s second season in 2008.
The Lobo men’s cross country team finished eighth at the NCAA Championships in 2009, and placed in the top-25 in the country five times throughout Franklin’s UNM career. The cross country men also won the 2010 Mountain West title, and finished in the top-five in the conference seven times since Franklin’s debut season.
Thirty five women and eight men earned cross country All-America honors since the beginning of Franklin’s career, including a record five All-Americans in his most recent season during the fall of 2022. Ednah Kurgat won the 2017 NCAA individual title, and Weini Kelati followed with the 2019 NCAA individual title.
Franklin’s success was not limited to cross country, as he piloted the Lobo track and field teams to six Mountain West team championships and 48 combined top-five team finishes at the indoor and outdoor meets. UNM won the Mountain West Conference men’s team indoor titles in three straight years from 2013-15, the women’s indoor titles in 2014-15, and the men’s outdoor team title in 2014. The Lobo women also earned a fifth-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships and an eighth-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
A total of 93 women and 65 men earned All-America recognition in track and field, and the Lobos claimed eight individual national titles under Franklin. Josh Kerr won the mile in back-to-back years in 2017-18 at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and won the 2017 1,500 meters outdoor national title. Kendall Spencer was the 2012 indoor champion in the long jump, and Lee Emanuel won the indoor mile in both 2009 and 2010.
On the women’s side, Courtney Freirichs won the 2016 steeplechase national title, and Kelati claimed the 10,000 meters national title in 2019.
A national search for New Mexico’s next head cross country and track and field coach will commence immediately.