Bio

Brett Franz serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Recruitment for Willamette University Athletics, a position he assumed on December 1, 2025, following a highly successful two-decade coaching career at the institution. In this leadership capacity, Franz is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the department while driving strategic growth and support for student-athletes.

Current Role and Responsibilities

Franz leverages his extensive institutional knowledge and commitment to the student-athlete experience to manage critical administrative functions.

• NCAA Compliance: Ensuring the athletic department and all programs adhere fully to NCAA rules and regulations.

• Recruitment and Retention Strategy: Leading internal strategies to attract top-tier student-athletes and promote their successful retention throughout their careers.

• Student-Athlete Academic Success: Continuing to provide dedicated support to help Willamette's student-athletes achieve academic excellence.

Willamette Career and Coaching Success

Franz brings 20 years of coaching, recruiting, and administrative expertise to the role, having previously spent a year and a half as Assistant Athletic Director overseeing compliance and student-athlete academic success.

• Women's Triathlon: As the program’s founding head coach, Franz built a nationally ranked program that resulted in him being named the 2023 Division III National Coach of the Year and coaching the National Freshman of the Year.

• Cross Country and Track & Field: During his tenure, he helped the Bearcats secure numerous Northwest Conference (NWC) titles, including nine NWC men's team championships and six NWC women's team championships in cross country, and coached athletes to 28 NWC individual track & field championships.

• Previous Experience: Prior to Willamette, Franz served as a successful coach at Lindenwood University (Mo.), where his teams achieved multiple NAIA national championships and high national finishes.