Experience: 8 Years E-mail: fljames@campbellsville.edu



Franky James was hired as Campbellsville University's first wrestling coach in April 2004. During his first season at CU, he qualified four Tigers for nationals and had his first All-American. Each of the following five years, he has filled all 12 qualifying spots for the NAIA National Championships, capturing 19 All-Americans and winning an individual national championship in 2007 with sophomore Zach Flake and in 2010 with sophomore Tommy Pretty at 133 pounds. His team's best finish at nationals is 7th in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

In 2009-10, the Mid-South Conference added wrestling as a sport and James' team swept through the first-ever MSC Duals to win the MSC Championship. James was named MSC Coach of the Year, while Pretty was named the MSC Wrestler of the Year and Nick Waldrop was named Co-Freshman of the Year. Six CU wrestlers were named All-Conference. Following the season, CU was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCAA) NAIA All-Academic Team for having the highest team GPA at the NAIA National Championships.

Prior to joining the Campbellsville staff, James was hired as an assistant coach at The Virginia Military Institute prior to the 2002-03 season, helping lead VMI to its first-ever All-Academy Tournament title. VMI also won the Virginia intercollegiate state title for the first time. While at VMI, James had the pleasure of coaching two of the winningest wrestlers in school history, Adam Britt and Matt Erwin.

James first head coaching experience came in 2001-02 as interim head coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He led the Mocs to an undefeated season in the Southern Conference and a regular season and tournament SoCon championship in his one-year stint, earning SoCon Coach of the Year honors. He joined the UTC staff as head assistant coach in 2000-01 and helped bring in a Top 20 nationally ranked recruiting class.

Before moving to Chattanooga, James began his coaching career at his alma mater Carson-Newman College, where he was a 1998 All-American and South regional champion at 149 pounds. He earned his B.A. in history in 1998 and became the C-N graduate assistant under Hall of Fame coach Don Elia. The position turned into a full-time spot at C-N, as James helped bring in a Top 5 nationally ranked recruiting class among non-NCAA Division I schools, coached seven All-Americans and helped coach two teams that finished in the Top 10 in the NCAA tournament.

James transferred to Carson-Newman for his senior year after starting at the University of Oklahoma for Jack Spates and Mark Manning and helped lead the Sooners to a NCAA Division I Top 10 finish. He began his collegiate career at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas, where he served as a captain on the 1993-94 NJCAA National Championship team and was national runner-up at 134 pounds.