Winning Coach, Trailblazing Educator, and Champion of Student Athletes

Mike Franklin’s coaching career spans nearly three decades, highlighted by his 25 years as baseball head coach at Catoctin High School (2000–2024). During his tenure, he guided more than 60 players to collegiate baseball careers or the professional draft. Under his leadership, Catoctin won state championships in 2013 and 2021. His teams have consistently performed at the highest level, claiming multiple regional titles and earning him the NFHS Maryland Baseball Coach of the Year award in 2021. Franklin has also been recognized as the MSABC Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2021, a testament to his enduring excellence and impact on the sport.

A graduate of Salisbury University with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a Master’s in Exercise Science from McDaniel College, Franklin has been a cornerstone of Catoctin High School since 1996, serving as a teacher, department chair, and mentor to hundreds of students.

Beyond baseball, Franklin has broken new ground in athletics and education. He co-coached Middletown High’s girls’ flag football team to the first-ever Frederick County and State Championship in 2023, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to student-athlete opportunities across sports. He also pioneered Maryland’s first Unified Physical Education class in 2013, integrating students with and without disabilities into a shared PE experience.

Franklin’s influence extends to youth sports and community programs, including coaching travel baseball, girls’ fastpitch softball, and organizing the Robbie Siedel III Baseball Tournament, honoring a former player lost in Iraq. He has also served as MPSSAA Region Baseball Chairman and a mentor through programs like CHS ROAR Club and Special Olympics events.

Recognized nationally and locally, Franklin is a two-time Frederick County Public Schools Teacher of the Year (2016, 2019–2020) and a finalist for Maryland Teacher of the Year. He is also an Amazon best-selling author for Changing the Game: How Teachers Enthusiastically Build Powerful Student Relationships and Amazing School Culture (2020).