ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — After two seasons as a graduate assistant, Dalton Franks is here to stay as Griffon Football's new outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, Head Coach Tyler Fenwick announced on Friday.
Franks is no stranger to prepping the defensive side of the pigskin, specifically coaching defensive linemen in 2021 and safeties in 2022. Nobody muted the passing game quite like MWSU's secondary did last season, giving up just 182.8 passing yards per game, the lowest total in the MIAA. Overall, the Griffon defense finished 45th in the nation in pass defense, a 111 spot improvement.
"Dalton has been nothing but impressive since I arrived here as he was a graduate assistant the past couple of years," Fenwick said. "He has a passion for the game of football. His ability to present and teach to the players has been extraordinary. Dalton has a very good grasp on special teams that aligns with what I have done in the past."
With his new role, Franks' responsibilities will consist of overseeing all specials teams functions and implementation, assisting in overall game plan for opponents, data breakdown and creating scouting materials. As he did in 2022, Franks will coach from the press box where he will help with personnel identification, coverage and run fit adjustments and special teams calls. His main areas of recruitment now span across Iowa, Nebraska and East Texas.
"I am thankful for the opportunity afforded to me by Coach Fenwick to continue my work here at Missouri Western in a full-time role," Franks said. "This university has done a lot for me in this profession of coaching and has blessed me with the opportunity to work with some amazing staff and players. I am looking forward to pouring more years into Missouri Western and helping this outstanding group of young men be the best that they can be on the field and in life."
With a relatively young group of linebackers to work with returning for the 2023 season, Franks can look forward to developing on a strong end to the 2022 campaign. In MWSU's final six games, the Griffon defense sacked the quarterback 15 times, only allotting any average of 164.2 passing yards during that stretch. This includes a seven-sack game by the Griffs vs. Lincoln on Nov. 12, tied for fourth most by any MWSU defensive unit in program history.
As for special teams highlights last fall, MWSU held opponents to a mere 50% (7-of-14) when attempting field goals. One pivotal special teams moment occurred on Oct. 29 in the Griffons' 31-27 win over Missouri Southern when MWSU forced the Lions to miss their first red-zone field goal of the season, a 32-yard shank that immediately led to the Griffons taking the lead and never looking back.
Heading into 2023, Franks believes replicating and cohesively building on last year's achievements will reveal much more success for the Griffons later on down the road.
"My hope is that I can assist in winning championships here at Missouri Western," Franks said. "Special teams is the one opportunity that guys from offense and defense come together to accomplish a common goal. Developing a special teams unit with a great amount of energy, enthusiasm and effort is what I hope my greatest accomplishment will be here at Missouri Western. Continuing to grow the relationships that I have begun here going into year three is also something that I hope to accomplish in my new role. We have a special group of outside linebackers here at Missouri Western, so I look forward to growing with them and becoming a dominant force in our defense."
