Mike Leonard

Mike Leonard returned for his second stint as the head coach of the Franklin College football program in December, 2024. Leonard carries a career 129-55 record after his 17 years leading the program from 2003-2019 and holds the program’s career record for winning percentage at 70.1. During his 16 years on the sidelines, Franklin won nine HCAC championships and earned the league's automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs. He was enshrined in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame after his first stint leading the Grizzlies, entering as part of the 2021 inductee class.

When Leonard arrived at the Franklin College helm in January of 2003, he sought to raise the confidence and conditioning levels of his new team right away. The Grizzlies’ new attitude in Leonard’s program involves: always think positive; strive for perfection; stay on the aggressive; enjoy football and enjoy life. According to Leonard: “Those four things, whether you’re playing football, studying for your classes or applying them in your profession, will give you the best chance for significance.”

The Franklin head coach is maintaining a long-standing tradition at FC, throwing the football with a quick-strike offensive attack. Leonard carries on the offensive philosophy of the great Coach Red Faught, who had been the head football coach at Franklin College from 1957-1988. This philosophy has been a proven high-scoring run-and-shoot type system. Much of Leonard’s offensive system known as the Red Attack Offense, is taken from Faught’s playbook.

Leonard has been involved with many other successful football programs in his career. His journey in the coaching profession has taken him to these places: DePauw University, the University of Alabama, the University of Tulsa, Hanover College, Holy Cross College, Butler University, Wittenberg University, as well as coaching professional football in Tokyo, Japan with the Recruit Seagulls.

Several other coaching experiences have added to his resume. Leonard had been both the head track & field coach at Hanover College, as well as the head men’s tennis coach. He has also coached unified flag football, as well as JV softball coach at Franklin Community High School.

As a quarterback at Hanover College, he lettered four years. Leonard was a team captain, most valuable player and mental attitude award winner in his senior season of 1983. Leonard is also a proud alum of the Speedway High School Sparkplugs, where he played football and track & field, while being a class vice-president all four years.

He is a member of the AFCA, IFCA, Kiwanis Club of Franklin, Camby Community Church, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Mike enjoys speaking at a variety of community functions. He limits himself to only three hobbies, which include fly-fishing, golf, and both playing and teaching guitar to beginners.

Leonard and wife, Susan, have a son, Bart (wife Kayla) and daughter Emily (husband Ethan) and one grandson Cash. Mike and Susan happily reside in Franklin on the edge of campus.