When Joe Franklin arrived at the University of New Mexico in 2007 to coach cross country and track and field, he said the opportunity was like a blank canvas.
Franklin saw great potential at UNM after leaving Butler, where he coached in the same role for 13 years, he told a small group that included community members, boosters and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales at the Letterman’s Lounge in the Pit on Tuesday morning.
Franklin spoke at the informal, yet intimate event, and Gonzales followed.
Ray Birmingham, the former UNM baseball coach who is in a director role for the event, asked Franklin what brought him to New Mexico.