OCCAC names Anthony Franklin 2025-26 Michael Rickard Athletics Director of the Year
CLEVELAND, Ohio (athletics.tri-c.edu) – The Ohio Community College Athletic Conference named Cuyahoga Community College Executive Director of Athletics, Recreation and Wellness Anthony Franklin as the 2025-26 Michael Rickard Athletics Director of the Year, June 30.
The award comes in the wake of one of the most successful years of competition for the Triceratops, including five teams earning postseason bids and three claiming OCCAC Championships.
"I am truly humbled by the recognition and understand that awards such as this are only possible because of the outstanding colleagues, coaches, staff, and student-athletes with whom I have the privilege to work," said Franklin. "I remain committed to serving our conference, the institution, and our student-athletes with professionalism, integrity, and a spirit of collaboration. I look forward to continuing to support the important work we do together and helping elevate the conference in any way I can."
Under Franklin's leadership, Tri-C Athletics have reached record-highs since the athletic department's return following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The softball team posted one of their most successful seasons ever, with a 34-8 record and 16-1 mark in league play en route to the OCCAC Championship, Great Lakes Region A Championship and the program's fourth NJCAA Division II Softball World Series appearance ever. Head coach Bryan Komlos earned his fifth OCCAC Coach of the Year award and Region 12 Coach of the Year honors, while hardware was also given to Julee Phillips (So./Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), who was named NJCAA Third Team All-American, NFCA First Team All-Region, Great Lakes District A Tournament MVP and First Team All-OCCAC; Reese Adkins (So./Oak Harbor, Ohio) won OCCAC Player of the Year and Golden Glove in addition to being named First Team All-Conference and to the Great Lakes District A All-Tournament Team.
Also on the diamond, interim head coach Nick Kaplack kept the momentum going with the Triceratops winning their third consecutive OCCAC Championship and finishing as Region 12 Runner-Ups. Jamir Ross (R-Fr./Dayton, Ohio) was named OCCAC Co-Player of the Year for his efforts as the Triceratops racked up a 34-18-1 overall record and 13-3 conference mark.
The women's basketball team captured their second OCCAC championship in four years with an 18-8 overall record, headlined by OCCAC Coach of the Year Dion Griffin and OCCAC Player of the Year La'Nia Moore (Fr./Canton, Ohio).
The volleyball and soccer programs also earned bids in their respective Region 12 postseason tournaments, with soccer goalkeeper Ryuko Yanase (Fr.) earning OCCAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
In the classroom, Tri-C saw a conference-high 45 players named to OCCAC All-Academic teams this Spring, which is awarded when a player has at least a 3.30 grade point average and passed at least 12 credit hours. Tri-C also boasted a conference-high 17 players with perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Franklin is the second Tri-C athletic director to win the award, with Mark Rodriguez earning the honor twice in 2019-20 and 2012-13.
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