Hall of Fame
Freeman, Franc
Franc Freeman
- Induction:
- 1996
- Class:
- 1962
In more than three decades as an athlete and coach, the name Franc Freedman was synonymous with wrestling success. As a prep at Davenport (Iowa) High School, he placed second in the state tournament as a member of the 1956 state championship team. From there he went on to great success at the University of Northern Iowa, earning all-America honors in 1961 and 1962.
He qualified for the NCAA championship both years, placing fourth as a junior and second as a senior. After concluding his UNI career in 1962, Freeman coached two years at Billings (Mont.) West High School, highlighted by a third-place finish in 1964. Next came 27 years as head coach at Bettendorf (Iowa) High School, during which time he compiled a dual meet record of 250-72-7.
In between victories, he managed to squeeze in a master's degree from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1970. Freeman's emphasis on mental as well as physical toughness produced 131 state qualifiers, 68 state place winners and eight state champions. Throughout the years, his teams won three Little Six Conference titles, three Mississippi Valley titles, 10 Mississippi Eight and MAC Conference championships, and 10 district team championships. He earned Iowa Coach of the Year honors in 1975 and 1988, and served as President of the Iowa High School Wrestling & Officials Association in 1979. He was named District (eight states) Coach of the Year in 1989, an honor he was nominated for in 1976 and again in 1992.
His teams at Bettendorf qualified for the state tournament seven times, placing third or higher six times. His career was highlighted by the 1982 team, which set a state tournament record at the time with 167.5 points (10 place winners) en route to its second consecutive state title.
In 1988, Freeman was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 1995, he was inducted into the Cresco (Iowa) Hall of Fame.
Freeman is the co-author of the book "Concepts in Coaching Wrestling" and several wrestling videotapes.
He qualified for the NCAA championship both years, placing fourth as a junior and second as a senior. After concluding his UNI career in 1962, Freeman coached two years at Billings (Mont.) West High School, highlighted by a third-place finish in 1964. Next came 27 years as head coach at Bettendorf (Iowa) High School, during which time he compiled a dual meet record of 250-72-7.
In between victories, he managed to squeeze in a master's degree from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1970. Freeman's emphasis on mental as well as physical toughness produced 131 state qualifiers, 68 state place winners and eight state champions. Throughout the years, his teams won three Little Six Conference titles, three Mississippi Valley titles, 10 Mississippi Eight and MAC Conference championships, and 10 district team championships. He earned Iowa Coach of the Year honors in 1975 and 1988, and served as President of the Iowa High School Wrestling & Officials Association in 1979. He was named District (eight states) Coach of the Year in 1989, an honor he was nominated for in 1976 and again in 1992.
His teams at Bettendorf qualified for the state tournament seven times, placing third or higher six times. His career was highlighted by the 1982 team, which set a state tournament record at the time with 167.5 points (10 place winners) en route to its second consecutive state title.
In 1988, Freeman was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 1995, he was inducted into the Cresco (Iowa) Hall of Fame.
Freeman is the co-author of the book "Concepts in Coaching Wrestling" and several wrestling videotapes.
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