Bullard High names its next football coach. He was a Clovis West assistant since 2021
Bullard High named Louis Franklin as its next head football coach, replacing Don Arax who was let go in September.
Franklin comes to Bullard after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Clovis West since 2021.
“We are excited to have Coach Franklin be a part of the Bullard family,” Bullard athletic director Brandon Gilbert said. “We look forward to him running our football program while getting to know our students, faculty, and community.”
Franklin is no stranger to being a head coach.
He was the Tokay coach in Lodi for eight seasons before he went to his alma mater at South Tahoe and was there for six seasons. In his final season, Franklin led South Tahoe to a 5-0 record in 2020.
At South Lake Tahoe, Franklin led the school to a state semifinals appearance in 2016 and also made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017.
At Tokay, the school went 22-11 in his final three seasons and led the team to the playoffs in the Sac-Joaquin section.
He said he’s looking forward to getting to Bullard and turning the program around.
“Make this a contender immediately,” he said. “You can just tell from the outside looking in that they’re a talented group of kids. They compete their butts off. I want to get over there and watch film and get to know the kids and coaches and fix it ASAP.”
Arax was let go as the Knights coach in late September. No reason was given by Fresno Unified why Arax was let go.
The Knights were two years removed after winning the Central Section Division II championship. That season, Arax was named The Fresno Bee’s Coach of the Year.
“At Bullard, coach Arax ... it’s a sleeping Giant in what he had,” Franklin said. “I shouldn’t say sleeping from here because people not from here, you really realize, hey that’s a great program. I’ve never had the opportunity to take over a program that’s in a good spot and has support it has in place. After you meet Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Armen Torigian the principal, you’re like OK, we can definitely be successful here.
“What Arax built was awesome. Definitely want to continue that tradition of excellence that’s been there with him and before him, and we want to make alumni and community proud. Not only on the field, but off the field. “
Gilbert was the interim head coach as the Knights finished the season 2-8 overall and 1-4 in the County/Metro Athletic Conference.
Franklin played quarterback at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. He will join the Bullard faculty at some point after winter break, the school said.
