Justin Franklin opened his introductory meeting as head coach of the Scott program Wednesday talking about three characteristics of an eagle.
The 43-year-old said eagles have tremendous vision, are the only birds that fly into storms and are master engineers. Franklin wants to bring those traits to Scott. He told the players, parents and administration on hand he has a vision of the work ethic he wants to see there and that teams can only grow in storms, especially the ones the Eagles will see playing in the rugged Class 5A, District 6.
Franklin spent some time at the end of the meeting talking to returning players and their families before going to the weight room for a training session. The 1999 Carroll County graduate said he noticed a common theme when talking to them.
“They seem hungry for leadership and direction,” Franklin said. “All the comments I received from the people up there is that was a big piece that was missing from the last season. It was that there really wasn’t an authority providing direction. That’s something I put a lot of focus on is providing a clear direction and expectations, enforcing rules and providing structure in practice.”
Franklin said he wants the players to have a purpose in everything they do from the weight room to warming up. He always wants the players moving and not standing around.
Scott Athletic Director Casey Fisk said the hiring committee noticed Franklin’s passion right away in addition to his humble approach. Franklin has been a coach and educator for more than 20 years. Fisk said the district is working on getting him in the building as soon as possible so the team can lift right after school as opposed to later in the evening.
“This guy was excited and he made us believe that he wanted to be here,” Fisk said. “He made us feel like anything was possible in the interview. I don’t know that he has all the answers and he’ll tell you that, but the fact that he’s willing to learn, ask a lot of questions and learn all about the kids is amazing.”
Franklin was most recently the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at North Oldham. He brings seven years of head coaching experience to Scott. Franklin led his alma mater at Carroll County for three seasons from 2019-2021. The Panthers finished 20-14 with three playoff appearances including two first-round playoff wins in 2020 and 2021 during his tenure.
Franklin also guided Trimble County from 2012-2015. The Raiders struggled going 4-37 during that time, but they made the playoffs in 2014.
Franklin played linebacker and defensive end for Carroll County. He’d been a quarterback before switching to center his senior year on offense. He then played collegiately including two years as a long-snapper at the University of Louisville, absorbing as much info as he could in playing at such a high level.
He listed a plan for developing players.
“If you break a student-athlete down, you have to build them up before they leave,” Franklin said. “I am not the coach that will constructively criticize them in practice and not return. I’m going to invest in that kid in that moment until they get it right, then I’m going to praise them. I have found that typically works. If a student-athlete doesn’t respond to the discipline, to the structure, then they don’t have to play. This is a voluntary sport and activity.”
Scott finished 2-8 last year missing out on the playoffs. Former Campbell County head coach Steve Hensley stepped in to lead the Eagles after Jake Owens had to resign and return to Florida weeks before the season started. Owens had been named the head coach earlier in 2023 after Eric Turner resigned following the 2022 season.
Teams outscored Scott, 471-190 last year. The Eagles were shut out once and held to seven or fewer points in five of those eight losses.
Franklin said he wants the Eagles to be more aggressive on both sides of the ball to change that. He plans to bring a teaching philosophy called the Zone of Proximal Development that will include 1-on-1 drills in practice to develop that part of the game.
“You stretch the comfort zone of a student,” Franklin said. “You provide a challenging, yet attainable task. Our objective will be to prepare them for the opposition’s best.”
Franklin will have a lot of experience returning as only six seniors graduated. Trey Cook returns at quarterback. Their leading rusher in Kaymon Coleman and leading tackler in Hunter Bradley also return.
Scott has had six winning seasons since 2015. The Eagles drove to the third round of the playoffs in 2021, 2019 and 2015.