Legendary Haynesville High School football coach Alton “Red’ Franklin has passed away Sunday, according to a post on his son Jeff’s Facebook page.
Franklin’s teams won 11 state championships in his 35 years as head coach, He retired in 2002 with a record of 366-76-8. Haynesville also finished state runner-up four times during his tenure.
Franklin, who became head coach in 1966, guided his teams to championships in 1970, 1971, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2000. He closed out his career in
From 1990-96, Haynesville went 96-4. Eight of his teams achieved perfect records.
The Gokden Tornado had a streaks of 15 consecutive district titles and 33 winning seasons.
Overall, Franklin guided the Tors to 27 district titles and 31 playoff appearances.
He earned state Coach of the Year six times. In 1985 and 1993, He was named the National High School Athletic Association’s Region 5 Coach of the Year.
Franklin was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted into the Louisiana High School Coaches Association in 1991.
Franklin is survived by his wife, Beth, and their three sons, Jeff, David and Tommy.
David replaced his father as head coach and continued the standard set by his father.