Morgan County Middle School boys’ basketball head coach Milfred Franklin has received a promotion.
He was recently named the new MCHS girls’ basketball head coach after Timothy Roop stepped down to take on an administrative role at the middle school.
Franklin said he is grateful for his new opportunity.
“I am very eager to get the girls in the gym and try to create a sense of wanting to get better,” Franklin said. “I want them to feel more empowered and build their confidence up. Overall, both as a student and as a basketball player.”
The Lady Dogs are losing two seniors in the offseason, although they will return a majority of their roster in 2022-23. They finished 13-14 overall last season but qualified for the GHSA Class 3A state playoffs as the No. 4-seed from Region 4-AAA. However, the Lady Dogs bowed out in the opening round after losing to Americus-Sumter.
Franklin said he hopes this ‘young core of players’ returning can help lead MCHS past the first-round next season.
“One thing I have learned about this group (returning) is that they are very coachable,” Franklin said. “They are very athletic and can play multiple positions. I have also noticed that they have a great sense of basketball knowledge.”
Franklin said his players will have to get used to his fast-paced style of play.
“I can’t wait for the girls to get in the gym because I like [my teams] to play at a very high, up-tempo level,” Franklin said. “So, getting back on the floor is going to tremendously help the learning curve with the things that I am going to implement.”
Franklin started coaching at Morgan County Middle School in 2002, serving two different stints. His first term lasted until 2015, which is when he became an assistant coach at the high school level for the Dogs’ JV and varsity teams.
Franklin then was a coach at the Bradwell Institute in Hinesville, Ga. in 2020, but didn’t get to finish the season due to COVID. He returned to coach at Morgan County Middle School this past season and was very successful.
Franklin said that he is excited to return to the high school level.
“I don’t have all the required pieces right now,” Franklin said. “However, Coach (Timothy) Roop and his staff built us a great foundation for success (in the immediate future). So, I am ready for summer workouts to start and to get at it.”