Anthony Franz joined the TIU football staff in 2016, and has served as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator since 2018. He also has coached the offensive line since 2017. In June of 2021, he was named the interim head coach of the Trojans following the departure of Lamont Butler from the program.
In his first season at Trinity in 2016, Franz worked with the Trojan defensive line, a unit that produced 23 sacks throughout the year, ranking 39th in the NAIA and recording the second-highest total over the past 12 seasons.
Under Coach Franz, the Trojan offensive line has improved yearly. In 2018, TIU’s front men played a big role as they helped the Trojan passing offense become the third best in the nation and the top passing game in the Mid-States Football Association.
During the COVID-19 shortened and postponed 2020 season, the TIU offense under Franz took a big step forward, jumping from the lowest scoring offense in the league to fourth with 18.6 points per game. Working with quarterback Nolan Brammer, the Trojans were second the conference in passing in 2020 with 2,161 yards through the air and averaging over 300 yards per game.
Prior to joining the TIU staff, Franz spent the previous four seasons as a member of the Dordt College football coaching staff in Iowa, beginning in 2012. Anthony began his time at Dordt as the Defender’s wide receiver’s coach, before moving to the offensive line following the 2014 season. After two seasons of work, Franz helped increase offensive production in almost every statistical category, most notably increasing the offensive rushing attack from 76th to fourth in the nation, and sacks against per game to 5th in the nation. In the fall of 2015, Franz transitioned to the role of special team coordinator and defensive line coach. During his time at Dordt, Franz coached seven players to All-GPAC honors and three players to NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors. During that time Franz also received his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.
Prior to coaching at Dordt, Franz was an assistant coach at Francis Howell North HS from 2006 to 2011. He then became the assistant director of football operations and an assistant offensive line coach for the River City Rage of the Indoor Football League in St. Charles, Mo., in 2008-09.
Anthony was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri., where he was an all-conference honoree while playing at Francis Howell North High School. Franz is a 2010 graduate of Lindenwood University (MO). He currently resides in Oak Park, Illinois with his wife Jessie and daughter Aley.
