Bill Franey is entering his tenth year of service to Texas Wesleyan University (2020-21).
He joined the Texas Wesleyan coaching staff in the summer of 2009 as an assistant coach and was named Interim Head Coach in August 2011 and then Head Coach in October of the same year, a possition held held through the 2016-17 season. In the 2018-19 season he returned to the program as an assistant coach under Head Coach Steve Trachier.
Franey brings over 45 years of high school and college coaching experience to the program and is one of only three coaches to eclipse the 100-win mark at Texas Wesleayn.
In six seasons as head coach he put together a record of 103-82 (.557), ranking third in program history in career coaching wins. He coached 15 All-Conference selections, four NAIA Scholar-Athletes, and the program's only three-time All-American (Katelynn Threats).
In his first stint as an assistant coach with the Lady Rams, Franey helped the team to a record of 48-16 (.750) over two seasons. In the 2009-10 season, the Rams went 20-10, a 12.5 game improvement over the previous season. In 2010-11, the Rams’ 28-6 record fell one win shy of matching the program record of 29 set in 1978-79. The team finished as the Red River Athletic Conference regular season and tournament runner-up and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the second time in school history. In his return to the program in 2019-20, the team posted its best record (17-11) since he departed with an 18-12 mark in 2016-17.
Franey has coached at the junior high, high school, junior college, and NCAA Division I and Division II levels. His extensive men’s basketball coaching resume includes head coaching stops at St. Henry Prep High School (Belleville, IL), Belleville Area College (now Southwestern Illinois College), and the University of Tulsa. He also served as an assistant coach at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University).
At Tulsa, Franey served as an assistant coach under Jim King before taking over as head coach for the final nine games of the 1979-80 season. He then continued as an assistant coach under Nolan Richardson. From Tulsa, Franey went to Europe, where he served as head coach for the Norwegian Basketball Federation’s Olympic Development team.
Coach Franey won a State Championship in Illinois and has an 83% high school and college winning percentage. He has been active locally for the last decade in AAU girls basketball and has 31 former players currently coaching in high school and college.
Franey played at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville under head coach Jim Dudley. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois and his MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Franey has one daughter, Katie. He currently resides in Colleyville, TX.
Bill Franey as Head Coach at Texas Wesleyan
2016-17: 18-12 (10-8 SAC)
The team posted great wins over LSU-Shreveport (75-67 OT) and NCAA DII East Texas Baptist (74-52) early in the season and a four game win-streak at the midway point, including a 104-68 win over Crowley's Ridge and an overtime conference victory over USAO. The Lady Rams backed that up with a upset win over 13th ranked Wayland Baptist. Katelynn Threats joined the 1,000 point club and is the only player in program history to reach All-American status three times. Threats, Ashley Bruner and Bailey Broadnax received All-SAC honors, while seven players made the Commissioner's Honor Roll list.
2015-16: 8-21 (3-15 SAC)
An injury plagued season ended with an 8-21 overall record. Katleynn Threats and Onyesonam Nolisa were both named All-SAC, while Threats became the program's first two-time All-American selection after gaining an honorable mention nod for the second consecutive season. Threats averaged 18.7 point snd 9.2 rebounds per season, while Nolisa set new school records with 22 rebounds at Johnson & Wales (FL) and 11 blocks at Florida Memorial.
2014-15: 16-16 (6-12 SAC)
The Rams finished at 16-16 overall. The team got off to a 15-6 start and garnered the program's first National Ranking (25th) since 1986. Sophomore Katelynn Threats became just the fifth player in program history to be named All-American. Threats was also a 1st-team All-SAC selection after she nearly averaged a double-double with 15.1 poitns and 9.6 rebounds per game.
2013-14: 15-16 (9-11)
Franey guided the Rams through their first tour in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The team went 15-16 overall while junior guard Amy Moody was named both All-Conference and NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
2012-13: 21-10 (15-7 RRAC)
The Lady Rams posted their fourth consecutive season in which the program produced 20 or more wins. The team finished with an overall record of 21-10 and 15-7 in conference action.
2011-12: 25-7 (19-5 RRAC)
In his first season as head coach (2011-2012), Franey led the team to a 25-7 record and a third place finish in the Red River Athletic Conference standings. The team's 25 wins were the third most in program history.
