McKendree University Men’s Basketball welcomed Donovan Franklin as the program’s Graduate Assistant Coach, joining Head Coach George Suggs’ staff in the summer of 2024. A decorated former player and rising coach, Franklin brings a wealth of experience at multiple levels of the game—from high school to professional basketball, both domestically and internationally.
Franklin’s first season on the Bearcats’ staff (2024-25) saw immediate impact. He helped guide McKendree to its best start in GLVC conference play (3-0) since joining the league in 2012-13. The Bearcats finished the season with an overall record of 14-14 and placed 8th in the GLVC, earning their fifth consecutive appearance—and sixth overall—in the GLVC Championship Tournament. Under Franklin’s guidance, McKendree produced a GLVC Second Team All-Conference selection as well as an All-Defensive Team honoree.
Before beginning his coaching career, Franklin enjoyed a successful professional and collegiate playing career. He played one season overseas with Killester Basketball Club in Ireland's Men’s Super League and spent two seasons with the St. Louis Spirits of the ABA (American Basketball Association).
Franklin reached the 1,000-point milestone at NCAA Division II Pittsburg State University (Pitt State) in the MIAA. In 54 games played (49 starts), he averaged 32 minutes per game and shot 48.7% from the field. He earned Third Team All-MIAA honors in 2019 and was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection in 2018.
Prior to Pitt State, Franklin competed at NCAA Division I Indiana State University in the Missouri Valley Conference. During the 2016-17 season, he appeared in 26 games (2 starts), averaging 4.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per contest.
Franklin began his collegiate career at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida—the same junior college attended by Indiana State legend Carl Nicks. In his lone season at Gulf Coast, Franklin led the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game while shooting 45.5% from the field and grabbing 4.3 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures in 17 straight games and averaged 28.2 points over a four-game stretch late in the season, including a 40-point performance against Northwest Florida State College on February 13, 2016.
A native of O’Fallon, Illinois, Franklin remains the all-time leading scorer at O’Fallon High School with 1,616 career points—breaking the previous record by 84. As a senior, he averaged 21.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while hitting 35 three-pointers and shooting nearly 80% from the free-throw line. He was a First Team All-Area selection by the Belleville News-Democrat.
After his playing career, Franklin began coaching in 2020, leading 7th and 8th-grade girls basketball teams at Grant Middle School in Fairview Heights, IL for three seasons (2021–2023). He then served as an assistant coach at Bayless High School (Affton, MO) during the 2023–24 season under Head Coach Jared Barnes, helping the team to a 9-12 record and a third-place finish in the South Central AA District.
Franklin earned his bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University in 2019 and is currently pursuing his master’s degree at McKendree University.
Last Updated on 10/24/2025
