Temple University Athletics
FRANKE INDUCTED INTO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S SPORTS HALL OF FAME
10.22.02 | Women's Fencing
"The entire Temple University community takes great pride in this very prestigous honor for one of our greatest coaches, Nikki Franke," said Temple University Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw.
The Women's Sports Foundation, founded by tennis great Billie Jean King in 1974, recognizes female athletes and coaches who have made history in women's sports and are selected based on achievements, breakthroughs, innovative style and ongoing commitment to the development of women's sports.
Some of the biggest names in women's sports today, including 80 champion female athletes and over 1300 supporters of girls and women's sports gathered to pay tribute to the top female athletes and coaches in the world raised funds for the efforts of the Women's Sports Foundation.
A Brooklyn native, Franke started the fencing program at Temple in 1972 and has guided her team to 30 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Overall, she has coached 11 All-Americans, compiled a 444-113-1 (.797) and was named National Coach of the Year in 1983. An Olympian herself, Franke was a member the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympic teams and won a silver medal in the foil competition at the 1975 Pan American Games. In 1975 and 1980, Franke was the United States Fencing Association's National Foil Champion. In 1995, Franke was inducted into the Temple University Hall of Fame.
