| Joe Franklin, a three-time national cross-country Coach of the Year and the architect of two NCAA National Championship cross-country teams, has been named the University of Louisville’s Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, UofL Vice President/Director of Athletics Josh Heird announced on Friday. “Words cannot fully express how thrilled we are to welcome Joe Franklin, his wife, Mindy, and his son, Elijah, to the University of Louisville,” Heird said. “Joe has an outstanding national reputation as a world-class coach, program builder, and man of character. His accomplishments include two NCAA national titles in cross country, along with numerous conference championships and Coach of the Year honors. He is a coach who wants all of his student-athletes to become their most successful selves, in sport and in life, and he is exactly who we need to take our track & field programs to unprecedented heights." Franklin comes to Louisville after 16 years (2007-23) as the head track and field/cross country coach at the University of New Mexico where he helped bring the program to national prominence. During his time there, he directed the Lobos to two NCAA women’s cross-country titles in 2015 and 2017 and a pair of national runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2022. “I’m excited and looking forward to joining the Louisville family and an athletic department with a very rich tradition and history of success at the highest level,” said Franklin. “Our goals will be simple from the day that we start: give our student-athletes incredible opportunities in the classroom, on the track and on the global stage. I want to thank Josh Heird and his staff for believing in me and my family.” 
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