Jethro Franklin Named Defensive Line Coach for UCLA Football
January 07, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES โ Jethro Franklin has been named defensive line coach for the UCLA football program, head coach DeShaun Foster announced Tuesday.
Franklin has 33 years of defensive-line coaching experience on the collegiate and professional levels. He spent the past three at his alma mater, Fresno State, where he guided at least one All-Mountain West Conference performer each year, and a fourth at Missouri in 2021. His NFL proteges have included Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Khalil Mack and Mario Williams, among others. Franklin is returning to Westwood, where he coached the Bruin interior defensive line in 1999.
"Coach Franklin not only knows what it takes to reach the next level, but perform there," said Foster. "He has more than 30 years of defensive-line knowledge and an enthusiasm for his craft that I know our players will embrace."
For 2024, Franklin's unit has helped the Bulldogs boast top-50 national rankings in third-down conversion percentage defense (.353), passes intercepted (15), red-zone defense (.808), rushing defense (139.4 yards per game), team passing efficiency defense (113.51) and turnovers gained (20). Devo Bridges was one of the group's catalysts, earning All-Mountain West Second Team acclaim in back-to-back years. In 2023, Bridges set career highs with 51 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries. He also picked off his first pass.
In 2022, Fresno State recovered from a 1-4 start to win its final nine games and the Mountain West championship. The Bulldogs also won the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. All-Mountain West first-teamer David Perales piled up 47 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks en route to a spot with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.
From 2015-19, Franklin served as assistant defensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks (2018, 2019) and defensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders (2015-17) in the NFL. Seattle made back-to-back playoff appearances during his time in the Pacific Northwest. Mack was tabbed the Associated Press (AP) Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, helping Oakland to a 12-4 record and a postseason berth, and became the first player to be voted an AP All-Pro at two positions โ defensive end and outside linebacker โ in 2015.
Franklin's first of four seasons (2011-14) at Miami saw the Hurricanes finish 21st overall in scoring defense, giving up 20.1 points per game. Anthony Chickillo and Marcus Robinson combined for 10 sacks. The 2013 squad climbed to No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and finished with a 9-4 record and the program's second bowl game in as many years. Miami had the country's 14th-best defense, surrendering 329.6 yards per game. Opponents rushed for 137.1 yards per game, placing the Hurricanes 30th nationally.
Muhammad Wilkerson was a first-round NFL draft pick after Franklin's lone season at Temple in 2010. The Owls went 8-4 that year. Wilkerson and Elisha Joseph garnered All-Mid-American Conference First Team honors. Franklin had two stops at USC, spending the 2005 and 2008 campaigns with the Trojans. Future first-rounders Sedrick Ellis, Lawrence Jackson and Nick Perry performed under Franklin's guidance on those teams.
Between his stints at USC, Franklin added to his NFL experience with the Houston Texans (2007, 2008) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006). In his second professional season, Williams in 2007 set a then-Texans record with 14 sacks. He added 12 more the next year.
Franklin got his NFL start with the Green Bay Packers (2000-04) during a run that included three NFC North championships and four playoff appearances. Gbaja-Biamila, Green Bay's fifth-round draft pick in 2000, earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2003. He reached the 10-sack mark four times during his career โ all under Franklin.
At UCLA, Franklin helped Kenyon Coleman and Ken Kocher to All-Pac-10 recognition. Coleman recorded 50 total tackles that included nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He ultimately played 12 years in the NFL. Kocher notched 43 total tackles, including four for negative yardage. Anthony Fletcher added 32 total stops, four tackles for loss and one sack. Twin pass-rush standouts Dave and Mat Ball also spent their first year under Franklin's eye. Franklin's longest coaching tenure thus far came at Fresno State (1991-98), where he helped the Bulldogs to three bowl trips. In 1992, the defensive front played a key role in established a Fresno State season record for tackles for loss (67).
Franklin's playing career began at San Jose City College (1984, 1985) where he was named a 1985 NJCAA All-American. He then joined the Bulldogs for a decorated two years, where he set a then-school record for sacks (19.5) in 1986 and was named the 1987 Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year. Franklin was drafted by the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1988 and played for the Seahawks in 1989. He went on to be picked No. 1 overall by the World League of American Football's San Antonio Riders in 1991 before embarking on his coaching career.
Franklin, who was born in Saint-Nazaire, France, graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor's degree in criminology in 1988. He has one son, Khalil, and one daughter, Takara.
FRANKLIN'S COACHING EXPERIENCE
1991-98 โ Defensive Line Coach โ Fresno State
1999 โ Interior Defensive Line Coach โ UCLA
2000-04 โ Defensive Line Coach, Green Bay Packers
2005 โ Defensive Line Coach, USC
2006 โ Defensive Line Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2007, 2008 โ Defensive Line Coach, Houston Texans
2009 โ Defensive Line Coach, USC
2010 โ Defensive Line Coach, Temple
2011-14 โ Defensive Line Coach, Miami (FL)
2015-17 โ Defensive Line Coach, Oakland Raiders
2018, 2019 โ Assistant Defensive Line Coach, Seattle Seahawks
2021 โ Defensive Line Coach, Missouri
2022-24 โ Defensive Line Coach, Fresno State
Franklin has 33 years of defensive-line coaching experience on the collegiate and professional levels. He spent the past three at his alma mater, Fresno State, where he guided at least one All-Mountain West Conference performer each year, and a fourth at Missouri in 2021. His NFL proteges have included Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Khalil Mack and Mario Williams, among others. Franklin is returning to Westwood, where he coached the Bruin interior defensive line in 1999.
"Coach Franklin not only knows what it takes to reach the next level, but perform there," said Foster. "He has more than 30 years of defensive-line knowledge and an enthusiasm for his craft that I know our players will embrace."
For 2024, Franklin's unit has helped the Bulldogs boast top-50 national rankings in third-down conversion percentage defense (.353), passes intercepted (15), red-zone defense (.808), rushing defense (139.4 yards per game), team passing efficiency defense (113.51) and turnovers gained (20). Devo Bridges was one of the group's catalysts, earning All-Mountain West Second Team acclaim in back-to-back years. In 2023, Bridges set career highs with 51 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries. He also picked off his first pass.
In 2022, Fresno State recovered from a 1-4 start to win its final nine games and the Mountain West championship. The Bulldogs also won the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. All-Mountain West first-teamer David Perales piled up 47 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks en route to a spot with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.
From 2015-19, Franklin served as assistant defensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks (2018, 2019) and defensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders (2015-17) in the NFL. Seattle made back-to-back playoff appearances during his time in the Pacific Northwest. Mack was tabbed the Associated Press (AP) Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, helping Oakland to a 12-4 record and a postseason berth, and became the first player to be voted an AP All-Pro at two positions โ defensive end and outside linebacker โ in 2015.
Franklin's first of four seasons (2011-14) at Miami saw the Hurricanes finish 21st overall in scoring defense, giving up 20.1 points per game. Anthony Chickillo and Marcus Robinson combined for 10 sacks. The 2013 squad climbed to No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and finished with a 9-4 record and the program's second bowl game in as many years. Miami had the country's 14th-best defense, surrendering 329.6 yards per game. Opponents rushed for 137.1 yards per game, placing the Hurricanes 30th nationally.
Muhammad Wilkerson was a first-round NFL draft pick after Franklin's lone season at Temple in 2010. The Owls went 8-4 that year. Wilkerson and Elisha Joseph garnered All-Mid-American Conference First Team honors. Franklin had two stops at USC, spending the 2005 and 2008 campaigns with the Trojans. Future first-rounders Sedrick Ellis, Lawrence Jackson and Nick Perry performed under Franklin's guidance on those teams.
Between his stints at USC, Franklin added to his NFL experience with the Houston Texans (2007, 2008) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006). In his second professional season, Williams in 2007 set a then-Texans record with 14 sacks. He added 12 more the next year.
Franklin got his NFL start with the Green Bay Packers (2000-04) during a run that included three NFC North championships and four playoff appearances. Gbaja-Biamila, Green Bay's fifth-round draft pick in 2000, earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2003. He reached the 10-sack mark four times during his career โ all under Franklin.
At UCLA, Franklin helped Kenyon Coleman and Ken Kocher to All-Pac-10 recognition. Coleman recorded 50 total tackles that included nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He ultimately played 12 years in the NFL. Kocher notched 43 total tackles, including four for negative yardage. Anthony Fletcher added 32 total stops, four tackles for loss and one sack. Twin pass-rush standouts Dave and Mat Ball also spent their first year under Franklin's eye. Franklin's longest coaching tenure thus far came at Fresno State (1991-98), where he helped the Bulldogs to three bowl trips. In 1992, the defensive front played a key role in established a Fresno State season record for tackles for loss (67).
Franklin's playing career began at San Jose City College (1984, 1985) where he was named a 1985 NJCAA All-American. He then joined the Bulldogs for a decorated two years, where he set a then-school record for sacks (19.5) in 1986 and was named the 1987 Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year. Franklin was drafted by the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1988 and played for the Seahawks in 1989. He went on to be picked No. 1 overall by the World League of American Football's San Antonio Riders in 1991 before embarking on his coaching career.
Franklin, who was born in Saint-Nazaire, France, graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor's degree in criminology in 1988. He has one son, Khalil, and one daughter, Takara.
FRANKLIN'S COACHING EXPERIENCE
1991-98 โ Defensive Line Coach โ Fresno State
1999 โ Interior Defensive Line Coach โ UCLA
2000-04 โ Defensive Line Coach, Green Bay Packers
2005 โ Defensive Line Coach, USC
2006 โ Defensive Line Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2007, 2008 โ Defensive Line Coach, Houston Texans
2009 โ Defensive Line Coach, USC
2010 โ Defensive Line Coach, Temple
2011-14 โ Defensive Line Coach, Miami (FL)
2015-17 โ Defensive Line Coach, Oakland Raiders
2018, 2019 โ Assistant Defensive Line Coach, Seattle Seahawks
2021 โ Defensive Line Coach, Missouri
2022-24 โ Defensive Line Coach, Fresno State
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