Kansas native Dennis Franchione announces retirement
Dennis Franchione, whose football coaching career took him from Kansas roots to a couple of the top programs in the country, is leaving the sidelines.
Franchione, 64, announced Tuesday that he is retiring from Texas State after 30 years as a head coach.
“After doing a thorough evaluation starting with myself, I have decided that it is time for me to retire from coaching,” Franchione said. “I have been blessed for 40 years in coaching the game I love. I have deep respect for the game and appreciate what it does for the development of young people.”
Franchione’s collegiate head-coaching career began at Southwestern College in 1981, where he compiled a 14-4-2 record in two seasons. He then served as offensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech for two years becoming coach at his alma mater, Pittsburg State.
During the next five seasons, he led the Gorillas to a 53-6 record, four Central States Intercollegiate Conference championships and one Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.
Franchione earned NAIA national coach of the year honors twice. His teams tied the school record with 11 victories in a season three times before breaking it with 12 wins in 1989, when Pittsburg State joined the NCAA Division II ranks.
After leaving Pittsburg State, Franchione spent two seasons at Texas State in San Marcos, when it was part of FCS. He then joined the FBC coaching ranks at New Mexico, where he recruited and coached future NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher for two seasons, and then had successful stints at TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M. During his last season at A&M it was revealed that Franchione has been selling a secret email newsletter for four seasons that contained injury reports not released generally, recruiting information and Franchione’s evaluation of players.
Franchione, a native of Girard, had stints as an assistant at Mulvane High and coach at Peabody-Burns in the 1970s, and was an assistant at Kansas State from 1978-81.
Franchione also worked in broadcasting for three years prior to his return to coaching at Texas State in 2011, where he finished his career.
The Bobcats were 3-9 this sseason. Franchione has a 213-135-2 career record.
“His track record over the years proves he is one of the best ever to walk the sidelines in college football,” Texas State athletic director Larry Teis said.
This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 7:21 AM with the headline "Kansas native Dennis Franchione announces retirement."