Since 2006, third-year assistant coach Michaela Franklin has translated her impressive academic and athletic credentials and her love for teaching into the Northern Illinois Huskies.
Franklin has helped coach NIU to a 2006 MAC West Division championship along with setting a high academic standard. Franklin has helped the volleyball team become one of the top two academic teams at NIU during a span where Huskie student-athletes have posted a cumulative GPA of 3.051, marking the sixth straight semester that NIU has surpassed the 3.0 mark.
As a student-athlete for Kansas State University (2002-04), Franklin helped the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament berths, including a conference championship. She helped K-State to three consecutive American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Awards during her tenure.
Although NIU is Franklin[apos]s first collegiate coaching job, the Lincoln, Neb., native honed her skills as an assistant coach for the Nebraska One Volleyball Club 171[apos]s from 2005-06. She has also spent time coaching in various camps, including the nationally-ranked University of Florida Volleyball Camp (2005), Kansas State Volleyball Camp (2003-05) and Pius X High School Volleyball Camp (2002-05) in Lincoln.
Franklin, a three-year letterwinner for Kansas State, totaled 238 kills in a Wildcat uniform from 2002-04. During that span, Franklin helped K-State advance to the NCAA Regional Semifinals (Sweet 16) and a Big 12 Conference title in 2003, along with advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and 2004. As a freshman, Franklin played for Northern Michigan University where she garnered 421 kills, including 24 double-digit kill performances in 2001.
The 25-year-old Franklin was equally as proficient in the classroom, as she received Kansas State[apos]s Snell Award for academic success as a senior. She took home Academic All-Big 12 second Team honors as a junior, while being named to the K-State spring semester honor roll as a sophomore.
As a prep, Franklin was a highly-decorated athlete, claiming 12 letters in volleyball, basketball and track at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Neb. She was a four-year starter for the Links volleyball squad, helping Lincoln to a pair of district titles. During that span, Franklin was named to the Lincoln Journal-Star Super State first team as a senior and was a third team selection as a sophomore and junior. She was a three-time All-City first team selection, while earning Class A All-State honors as a senior.
