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The World
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Wall Street Journal. Forbes. ESPN. CBS Sports. NPR. Washington Post. Smart Football. When the media covers football innovation, they call Tony Franklin.

Wall Street Journal
"

"One of the most innovative minds in Football..."

— The Wall Street Journal · Tony Franklin's Art of Crowdsourcing

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What People Say About Tony Franklin

National media, broadcasters, editors, radio hosts, and the people who know him best.

Wall Street Journal · John Clegg
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"One of the most innovative minds in Football..."

— John Clegg, Wall Street Journal

Paul Finebaum · ESPN / SEC Network
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"One of the most courageous sports books I've read... brilliant and timely... sensitive look at big-time college sports from someone who has been on the inside."

— Paul Finebaum, ESPN · Finebaum Radio Network · SEC Network

Forbes Magazine
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"Franklin's dot-connecting is building a successful capability unlike that of any other coach."

— Forbes Magazine

Read on Forbes →
Jared Goff · #1 Pick, 2016 NFL Draft
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"I have never had a coach change my outlook on life more than he has in these past 3 years. He has taught me so much about myself and guided me in the process of being a Division 1 quarterback week in and week out. I would not be anywhere close to where I am now without him."

— Jared Goff · #1 Pick, 2016 NFL Draft · QB, 2019 Super Bowl LA Rams

CBS Sports · Jon Solomon
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"It's probably not hyperbole to say there's never been quite a coach like Franklin. He marches to a different beat."

— Jon Solomon, CBS Sports

NPR · Bill Littlefield
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"The gospel of Tony Franklin… Tempo, Tempo, Tempo, and Sharing."

— Bill Littlefield, NPR

Smart Football · Chris Brown
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"Tony Franklin had to get fired, blackballed, and cast out of the coaching community to arguably do more for the evolution of football at the high school and lower levels than any coach of the last decade."

— Chris Brown, Smart Football

Tom Farrey · ESPN
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"Honest... Informative... Frank... providing a glimpse into a world almost no one has dared to talk about... valuable and articulate person…"

— Tom Farrey, ESPN

Kirk Herbstreit · ESPN
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"Tony Franklin, the guru of the spread..."

— Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN

Alan Cutler · WLEX 18 NBC
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"Someone with a brain, who cares and has the 'guts' to stand up for what he believes in."

— Alan Cutler, WLEX 18 (NBC)

Tony Cruise · 840 WHAS
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"A voice that needs to be heard… compelling… truthful."

— Tony Cruise, 840 WHAS

Chip Hutcheson · The Times Leader
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"Of all the things people may say about Franklin, one thing is certain — he's got guts... a fascinating look at the treachery in a profession where ego engulfs so many people."

— Chip Hutcheson, Editor, The Times Leader

Bob Watkins · Sports in Kentucky
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"Franklin's book is courageous... his decision to stand up for what's right will serve him well along his career road, well beyond football."

— Bob Watkins, Sports in Kentucky

Larry Vaught · 630AM Clear Channel
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"Callers like his honesty as well as his knowledge. He doesn't duck difficult issues and is not afraid to voice his opinion. Yet he also treats callers with respect and makes each feel that their question and comments were important."

— Larry Vaught, 630AM Clear Channel, Lexington

Sue Wylie · WVLK-AM Newstalk 590
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"Tony Franklin is a terrific guest. His frank, forthright, and fearless opinions on what has gone wrong in college athletics keep all our call-in lines busy. He's appealing, refreshing, and respected and never fails to draw enormous listener response."

— Sue Wylie, WVLK-AM Newstalk 590, Lexington

Kevin Scarbinsky · AL.com
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"That's Tony Franklin. He's not afraid to say what he thinks no matter who's listening. Who else would go on a Birmingham radio show, disagree with Nick Saban, and credit 'my good friend' Rush Propst for setting a trend by winning state titles with the no-huddle at Hoover High?"

— Kevin Scarbinsky, AL.com · October 2012

Rankings & Recognition

Industry rankings, coaching lists, and expert recognition.

FanSided · Nicholas Ian Allen
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"One of the top 10 offensive coaches in football."

— Nicholas Ian Allen, FanSided

Football Scoop · 2012
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"Tony Franklin is the mastermind behind one of the most consistent and explosive offenses in the country."

— Football Scoop, 2012

Lexington Herald-Leader · John Clay · 2008
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"Offensive mastermind."

— John Clay, Lexington Herald-Leader, August 2008

ESPN · Graham Watson · Jan 2010
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Named Tony Franklin #1 "Grade A" — #1 of all 2010 non-BCS hires. The top offensive coaching addition in the country that cycle.

— Graham Watson, ESPN College Football Blog, January 28, 2010

Bleacher Report · Tom Perry · 2011
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Named Tony Franklin the 14th best assistant coach in America in College Football 2011 rankings.

— Tom Perry, Bleacher Report, College Football 2011

Rivals.com · 2009
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Named to Rivals Top 25 Offensive Coordinators in college football — recognized nationally among the elite play-callers in the sport.

— Rivals.com, 2009

SI.com · December 2009
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Sports Illustrated preview names Tony Franklin "offensive guru" ahead of the New Orleans bowl game.

— SI.com, December 2009

CBS Sports · Dennis Dodd · May 2008
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"Football savant."

— Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports, May 13, 2008

ESPN · Ivan Maisel · August 2008
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"Tempo Guru" — leading the second fastest offense in America.

— Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com, August 8, 2008

Major Media Outlets

National press, broadcast, and digital coverage.

Forbes
"

"Franklin's dot-connecting is building a successful capability unlike that of any other coach."

— Forbes · Network Leaders Connect the Dots to Innovate

Read on Forbes →
CBS Sports
"

"It's probably not hyperbole to say there's never been quite a coach like Franklin. He marches to a different beat."

— Jon Solomon, CBS Sports · Tony Franklin's has spent his career fighting back...

Read on CBS Sports →
ESPN
"

"Tony Franklin, the guru of the spread..."

— Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN · Can Jared Goff be the Face of an NFL Franchise?

Read on ESPN →
NPR · Only A Game
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"The gospel of Tony Franklin… Tempo, Tempo, Tempo, and Sharing."

— Bill Littlefield, NPR · Only A Game

Listen on NPR →
More From the Press

Writers, analysts, and insiders who've covered the system.

Football Scoop
"

"Tony Franklin is the mastermind behind one of the most consistent and explosive offenses in the country."

— Football Scoop · Like a Regular Coaches' Clinic, but Bigger and Better

Read Article →
Chris Brown · Smart Football
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"Tony Franklin had to get fired, blackballed, and cast out of the coaching community to arguably do more for the evolution of football at the high school and lower levels than any coach of the last decade."

— Chris Brown, Smart Football

ESPN · #1 Assistant Coach Hire
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Tony Franklin ranked #1 on ESPN's list of top first-year assistant coach hires — recognized nationally for his offensive innovation and player development at the college level.

— ESPN · Top 2008 First-Year Assistant Coach Hires

Read on ESPN →
CBS Sports · Lifelong Southerner
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A deep profile on Tony Franklin's journey from the South to UC Berkeley — his transformation as a coach, a thinker, and a man willing to question everything the football world told him was true.

— CBS Sports · Tony Franklin Turned Liberal

Read on CBS Sports →
Washington Post
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A College Football Coach's Season at War with the Coronavirus — and His Own School. An in-depth look at Tony Franklin's battle to keep players and staff safe while his program faced institutional pressure during the global pandemic.

— Washington Post · January 2021

Read on Washington Post →
The Daily Californian
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Tony Franklin's Return to the Gridiron — covering his arrival at UC Berkeley and the offensive transformation that would eventually develop Jared Goff into the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

— The Daily Californian · October 2013

Read Article →
Featured Articles

Full-length profiles, features, and investigations.

Wall Street Journal
Tony Franklin's Art of Crowdsourcing

How Tony Franklin built a football consulting empire by sharing everything — and why the traditional coaching world fought back.

Read Article →
Forbes
Network Leaders Connect the Dots to Innovate

Forbes examines how Franklin's unique approach to sharing systems and knowledge created a coaching network unlike anything else in the sport.

Read on Forbes →
ESPN
Can Jared Goff Be the Face of an NFL Franchise?

ESPN profiles Jared Goff's development at UC Berkeley — featuring Tony Franklin's role in preparing him for the NFL Draft and life beyond college football.

Read on ESPN →
Washington Post
A Coach's Season at War with the Coronavirus

An investigative feature on Tony Franklin's fight to protect players during COVID-19 — and the institutional forces that pushed back.

Read on Washington Post →
CBS Sports
Once-Fired Coaches Never Lose the Chip on Their Shoulders

How Tony Franklin's firing, blackballing, and eventual return became one of the most remarkable comeback stories in football history.

Read on CBS Sports →
Football Scoop
Like a Regular Coaches' Clinic, but Bigger and Better

Football Scoop covers the Tony Franklin System clinic experience — why it's become the most referenced coaching education program in high school football.

Read on Football Scoop →
Podcast Features

Tony has been featured on podcasts covering football, coaching, and leadership.

NPR · Only A Game
The Gospel of Tony Franklin: Tempo, Tempo, Tempo, and Sharing
Listen →
Yogi Roth Show
A College Football Legend: Tony Franklin on Coaching, Impacting Young Players, and Love
Listen →
Upon Further Review
Interview with Coach Tony Franklin — Longtime QB Coach and Offensive Coordinator
Listen →
SoundCloud
Teaching the Details, Perfect Practice, RPO and More — Tony Franklin, OC Middle Tennessee
Listen →
Cal Bears Athletics
Cal Blog: Tony's Book — Inside the offensive philosophy that prepared Jared Goff for the NFL
Read →
Fourth & Relentless Podcast
Tony Franklin's own podcast — recorded on morning walks, 5 days a week. Football. Life. Reinvention.
Subscribe →
Media Video Features
Watch Tony in Action

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