Robert E. Lee swimmer David Hudson, his mother June Hudson, and swim coach Matt Franks, as he prepares to sign a commitment to compete at Nova Southeastern University. ( Lang White / Correspondent )

 

One of the most successful coaches at Robert E. Lee High School is embarking on a new challenge.

Matt Franks agreed this week to become the new swim coach for Lucas Lovejoy High School. For the last 13 years, Franks piloted the REL swim program to district championships, regional success and state appearances.

Now he will look to do the same at 5A Lovejoy.

“It seems like a great opportunity,” Franks said. “Leaving Lee (is tough). I’ve never planned on leaving. I always envisioned myself as one of those coaches who stays at a school for 40 years. It still hasn’t sunk in that I am leaving.”

Franks became REL head swim coach in 2002 and immediately began talking about the Red Raiders becoming a regular at regionals and at state.

“It wasn’t something that people saw as a realistic opportunity when I arrived and that was the first thing I said when I took this job is ‘Why not?'” Franks continued. “If we are not looking at regionals and state, then we are not doing ourselves justice.”

The REL girls swim just wrapped up their ninth consecutive district championship in January. The REL boys team won eight-straight district titles before its streak was stopped in 2013. Franks led REL to regional team titles for the boys in 2010 and 2011 and a girls regional championship in 2009; qualified nine relays and six individuals for state with three of those bringing back medals; produced five All-Americans and helped 13 athletes continue their careers in college, highlighted by Sam Lewis, who has helped the University of Texas continue its run of NCAA national championships.

And he has done all of this by overcoming challenges posed by an outdated swimming facility that requires him to be as much a pool repairman as much as a coach.

Despite the Red Raiders success, the school has not been allowed to host a meet because the pool does not have enough lanes, locker room facilities or enough space to host the event.

“I have spent so much time into this facility and this place is literally held together by duct tape,” Franks said. “There are a lot of great memories in it, but the number of times I’ve had to go up there in the middle of the night (because something wasn’t working); I’ve literally said a prayer every morning just asking that there will be water in the pool and be able to (keep it running) enough to finish that season.

“That has taken a toll. There is really no comparison to another school district as far as a facility because I don’t know of another school district that would’ve had it open. I am thankful that our district has supported the team and (kept this program functioning through this facility) but we’ve never been able to get anything done as far as a new pool.”

Franks understands that water is water, regardless, and REL has been very successful using the pool it has. He believes that the team could’ve been even better because a new facility would’ve attracted a larger number of kids to swimming.

The longtime REL coach said it takes a lot for kids to come into the TISD Aquatic Center and look past the dingy, sometimes foggy and overcrowded pool and just focus on the task of improving.

“It’s about the love of your sport, your teammates and the program,” Franks said. “You really have to be an artist because you walk into that place and it’s (so dreary). There is nothing to look forward to as far as a facility. We’ve really had to take it as a badge of honor to be successful in spite of this.”

Recently, the TISD school board discussed building a new natatorium with Franks and his program’s success spearheading that issue.

Franks said that initiative “has started to fizzle a little bit” which prompted him to seriously consider other jobs for the first time.

Franks leaves a program loaded with underclassmen swimmers anxious to add to REL’s run of district titles, regional success and state qualifiers.

“It’s a young team and a really great group of kids,” Franks said. “I don’t know if this will settle in until the first day of school next year. I know I am blessed with another great opportunity and I look forward to those challenges, but I don’t think it’s going to be real until I start packing (to move). When you work with the kinds of kids that I had the opportunity to work with, it makes it all worthwhile.”