Matt Franzen
Head Coach - 10th Season
Matt Franzen took over the Doane Football program in December 2006. Franzen also serves as the offensive line coach for the Tigers.
A native of Lincoln, Franzen graduated from Doane College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. He also holds a Masters Degree from Hastings College in Teaching/Physical Education. He earned First Team NAIA All-America honors in 1993 as an offensive lineman.
Franzen started coaching in 1996 as a graduate assistant at Hastings College and continued as a Bronco coach through the 2006 season. In 1997, he was named offensive line and tight ends coach, a position he held until 2000. In 2000, Franzen took over the junior varsity program and was named offensive coordinator in 2001 for the Broncos. In 2005, he was named assistant head coach for the Broncos.
In his first season at Doane in 2007, the Tigers went 4-6 overall on the season with a 4-1 record at home.
The 2008 season opened with a match-up against William Jewell and former Tiger coach Fran Schwenk. Schwenk was Matt’s coach while at Doane. Doane came away with a 15-12 win.
In 2009 against Nebraska Wesleyan, Doane had one of their plays highlighted on ESPN’s College Football Live.
Franzen was named the 2011 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Co-Regional Coach-of-the-Year after guiding the Tigers to an 8-2 record and No. 19 NAIA ranking. Doane went undefeated at home and placed second in the GPAC, their best finish since 2002. There were 20 players who earned All-GPAC honors, including Offensive Player-of-the-Year Anthony Dunn. Place kicker Andrew Nielsen was named Doane’s first NAIA/AFCA All-American since 2002.
In 2012, the Tigers posted yet another national ranking (No. 20) as they finished 7-3. Dillon Carmichael earned NAIA/AFCA All-American honors, giving the Tigers an All-American in back-to-back years.
Matt resides in Crete with his wife, Lacey, and daughters, Anna & Cora.
