Gary Franke

Gary Franke
Washington & Lee University Head Coach
1973-2011

Born and raised in Southern Minnesota, Gary Franke’s wrestling career is filled with successes. A two-time Minnesota state place-winner at Gaylord High School, Franke enrolled at Mankato State College, where he was a 4-year letter winner. As team captain, Franke earned Mankato’s most valuable wrestler award after setting the school record for consecutive dual meet victories with 32. Franke graduated in
1971 with a 42-17 career record, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education.

Following graduation from Mankato, Franke served in the military as an Army Chaplain and assistant coach and recruiter for the West Point wrestling team from 1971-73. During this time, he was a member of the All-Army wrestling team, a place-winner at the 1972 AAU National Tournament, and earned a bronze medal in the 1972 World Military Games in Ankara, Turkey.

From 1973-2011, Franke has served as the head wrestling coach and associate professor of physical education at Washington and Lee University. During his 38 years, he has compiled nearly 200 career victories and is the program’s all-time wins leader. His teams have won three conference championships and have finished with a .500 or better record 19 times. He has coached 24 NWCA Academic All-Americans, as well
as one NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winner, and the program’s only NCAA AllAmerican. Franke has also been named the Conference Coach of the Year on three occasions (1976, 1978, 2007).

Active in the wrestling community, Franke served on the National Wrestling Coaches Association Executive Committee from 1977-80, and as a wrestling official for both the Virginia High School League (1973-97) and the NCAA (1973-93). Franke was also a coordinator for the 1976 Olympic Wrestling Team in Montreal, and currently serves on the NCAA Division III Wrestling Committee.

In addition to his responsibilities as wrestling coach, Franke also coached the W&L men’s tennis team from 1979 through 2000. He was a nine-time Conference Coach of the Year, guiding his athletes to 39 All-America citations and the 1988 NCAA Division III National Championship. He was named the 1987 Division III Coach of the Year.

Franke and his wife Linda make their home in Lexington, Va. The couple have a daughter, Kara, and a son, Ryan.

 

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