Former Lobo Coach Dennis Franchoine Nominated for NFF College Football Hall of Fame
IRVING, Texas — The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names on the 2026 Ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, including 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks. Among the nominees is former Lobo football head coach Dennis Franchoine, who was coach from 1993-97 and led UNM to the WAC championship game and a berth in the Insight.com Bowl.
The NFF ballot was emailed today to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current NFF Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF’s Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class.
The Honors Court, chaired by NFF Board Member and NFF College Football Hall of Famer Archie Griffin from Ohio State, includes an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletic administrators, NFF Hall of Famers and members of the media. Click here for the official criteria and the voting procedures, which govern election to the NFF Hall.
Franchoine came to UNM after a two-year stint at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) and with UNM he led the Lobos to a 33-36 record in six years after New Mexico was just 9-51 in the previous five seasons. He led UNM to a 6-5 record in his second season, UNM’s first winning campaign in 11 years. His final season UNM went 9-4 overall, winning the Mountain Division of the WAC, and getting to the WAC title game. UNM made it into a bowl game for the first time in 36 years, losing 20-14 to Arizona at the Insight.com Bowl in Tucson.
He started his head coaching career at Southwestern, going 14-4-2 in two seasons. He then went 53-6 at Pittsburg State over five seasons. He then had the first of two stints at Texas State. He also coached at TCU (25-10 in three season), Alabama (17-8 in two seasons), and Texas A&M (32-28 in five seasons).
Two-time NAIA National Coach of the Year before moving into Division I, twice coaching at Texas State and eventually leading the Bobcats’ transition to the FBS…Known for revitalizing struggling programs, led New Mexico to its first bowl in 36 years and TCU to its first postseason win since 1957…Took over a 3-8 Alabama team and led the Tide to a 10-win season in just two years, later guiding Texas A&M to consecutive victories over archrival Texas (2006-07) and a berth in the 2005 Cotton Bowl. Franchoine was 39-43 over seven seasons at Texas State, including a game in Albuquerque in 2012, a 35-14 win for the Lobos.