ORLANDO - Michaela Franklin, a former Big 12 volleyball champion, has been hired as associate head coach for UCF Volleyball, head coach Jenny Maurer announced on Friday.
"It is with much excitement that I announce the completion of my coaching staff with Michaela Franklin joining the UCF Volleyball family as an associate head coach," said Maurer. "Michaela and I have crossed paths for over 15 years on the recruiting trail where we served as head coaches and recruiting coordinators at various universities. She is a go-getter, a consummate learner and an overall great person who will add valuable experience to our staff as both a former player and coach at the highest level. From her time as a student-athlete in the Big 12 to her years as a coach in the Big Ten, ACC and Big East, Michaela knows what it means to prepare for and compete against the best in the nation. Plus, and most importantly, Michaela understands that we're in the people business where the development of program, staff, team, and department relationships is essential to a healthy culture.
"With the continuation of Erin Olson in her role as our director of volleyball operations, I am ecstatic to get going as a complete staff as we begin our training for our international trip next week," Maurer added.
Franklin will stay in the Sunshine State after a one-year stint at USF as the associate head coach.
Prior to USF, Franklin served as the head volleyball coach at Clemson from 2017-2020. At Clemson, she mentored four different players that earned All-ACC accolades on five occasions and had three different players earn spots on the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team.
Franklin guided the Tigers from a 7-25 record in her first season at Clemson in 2017 to a 19-15 mark the following season as the team reached the National Invitational Volleyball Championship quarterfinals – the program's first postseason appearance since 2009 and the team's most wins since 2012.
A nationally recognized recruiter, Franklin recruited a pair of nationally recognized classes to Clemson, including the No. 24-ranked overall class in 2020. Additionally, all players on her 2020 roster were named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. The team's 2019 fall GPA stood as the highest in program history, followed by the second highest in the spring of 2020.
Preceding Clemson, she was the associate head coach at the University of Iowa for the 2014-16 seasons and the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for the 2013 campaign. At UW-Green Bay, Franklin's squad finished with the second-best record in program history and recorded its best finish in the Horizon League in a decade.
Franklin also served as an assistant coach at Marquette University from 2009-12 and Northern Illinois University from 2006-08.
"It is with great honor and gratitude to have the opportunity to join the UCF volleyball program and Jenny Maurer's staff," said Franklin. "I am excited to help build upon the rich tradition and success of the program and join a strong culture of support, grit, and determination.
"Thank you to Jenny Maurer, Vice President & Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir, and Deputy Athletics Director Chris McFarlane for their support and confidence in me to help continue the winning tradition of the program as we make the transition into the Big 12 Conference."
As a player at Kansas State from 2002-04, Franklin helped lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 Championship and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the Sweet 16.
The Lincoln, Nebraska, native graduated from K-State with a bachelor's degree in family studies and human services in 2006 and went on to earn her master's in sports management from Northern Illinois.
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