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/news/newsroom