Friends of Basketball

Larry Franklin

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:  Calhoun Junior High School

Nashville Junior High School

Hoyleton Junior High School

Biography:   Larry Franklin was among the most respected junior high coaches in southern Illinois because of his love and dedication to the game. He coached teams at the junior high level for 30 years. He had a two-year stint at Calhoun, 21 years at Nashville and two years at Hoyleton. All the years were primarily at the seventh- and eighth-grade levels. He also was athletic director at Nashville for 21 years.

Franklin also coordinated an annual all-school tournament that was participated in by a large majority of the students from the school. His duties included coaching, refereeing, announcing and running the concession stand. To give an indication of his love of the game, Franklin accepted the coaching position at Hoyleton after he retired because the team needed a coach. Another example would be the time he gave part of his coaching salary to an assistant coach for a few years because the school couldn’t afford to pay an assistant’s position.