Storied Women’s Golf Assistant Brent Franklin Retires

BOULDER —After 20 seasons with the University of Colorado women’s golf program, associate head coach Brent Franklin has retired.
 
Franklin joined the Buffaloes in 2003 as a volunteer coach. In 2005, he was elevated to an assistant, and prior to the 2019 fall season, he was promoted to associate head coach.
 
In his time with CU, Franklin helped head coach Anne Kelly elevate and grow the program. In his first full season as an assistant (2005-06), the Buffs recorded a third-place finish at the Big 12 Conference Championship, the program’s highest finish in the Big 12 era. A few seasons later, Colorado qualified for the 2009 NCAA West Regional, making its first regional appearance.
 
Colorado moved to the Pac-12 Conference for the 2011-12 season and immediately found success. CU finished sixth at its first Pac-12 Championship and advanced to the NCAA West Regional. Playing on their home course at Colorado National in Erie, Colo., the Buffs finished fourth to earn their first team appearance at the NCAA Championship.
 
The team continued its upward trajectory and at the 2017 Pac-12 Championship, recorded a runner-up finish, its best-ever finish at any conference championship. Then in 2018, the Buffaloes earned their second trip to the NCAA Championship after a sixth-place finish at the NCAA San Francisco Regional.
 
Under Franklin’s guidance, five individual Buffs earned All-America honors. Emily Talley and Alex Stewart were the first two to be recognized in 2011-12. Talley was named an honorable mention All-American (National Golf Coaches Association and Golfweek) while Stewart was a Golfweek honorable mention honoree. Esther Lee earned four All-America honors. She was a Women’s Golf Coaches Association Second Team pick twice (2014-15, 2015-16) as well as a Golfweek Third Team selection those same years. Robyn Choi and Brittany Fan were both named 2017-18 WGCA honorable mention All-Americans.
 
The first Buff to earn all-conference honors also came during Franklin’s time with CU. Hannah Hoch was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team following the 2004-05 season. Emily Childs was the second Buff to pick up all-conference honors as a first team selection (2008-09). Jess Wallace and Talley were both named to the 2010-11 All-Big 12 First Team and the following season, Wallace and Talley, along with Stewart, were…