Cal OC Tony Franklin taking same position at Middle Tennessee St.
Cal offensive coordinator Tony Franklin is heading to Middle Tennessee State. Franklin announced his resignation from the post with the Golden Bears on Friday to take the same job with the Blue Raiders.
It's not too often that you see a Power Five coordinator take the same position at a non-Power Five school (Middle Tennessee State is a member of Conference USA). In his statement from Cal, Franklin said he wanted to be closer to his family, which included his parents, children and grandchildren.
"It has been an honor to represent the world’s No. 1 public education institution as the offensive coordinator for one of the nation’s best offenses," Franklin said. "The young men I was honored to lead shattered the Cal record books with an exciting brand of football, unlike any previously performed in Cal’s rich history, culminating with a 2015 bowl game victory.
"I wanted this to be the final stop of my coaching career which began in 1979 and has enjoyed parts of five decades. However, it wasn’t meant to be."
Franklin was previously Middle Tennessee State's offensive coordinator in 2009 when the team went 10-3 as a member of the Sun Belt. He was with the team for a season before he moved to Louisiana Tech and joined up with now-Cal coach Sonny Dykes. When Dykes was hired at Cal in 2013, Franklin became the Bears' offensive coordinator.
Cal quarterback Jared Goff declared early for the NFL draft along with wide receiver Kenny Lawler. Wide receivers Bryce Treggs and Trevor Davis -- the two receivers who had more yards than Lawler -- were seniors in 2015.
The Bears were No. 8 in total offense in 2015 and averaged 6.96 yards per play. MTSU was No. 32 in the country in total offense and freshman QB Brent Stockstill – the son of head coach Rick Stockstill – threw for 4,005 yards with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
