Franklin College Director of Athletics Andrew Hendricks has announced the appointment of Randi Garrett as the new head of the Franklin College volleyball program prior to the start of the 2021 fall season.
Garrett is no stranger to the Franklin program, serving as its assistant coach from 2017-20 before moving to the University of Northwestern Ohio, where she was the lead assistant for the 2020-21 campaign. Now back in the blue and gold, she takes over a program that's coming off its first conference tournament appearance in six years and that matched the most conference wins in a season all-time with seven last spring.
During her time as Franklin's assistant coach, Garrett was involved in all aspects of the program such as coordinating and planning practices and game plans, player development, setting up team academic meetings and fundraising. As Franklin assistant, she helped guide three Grizzlies to First Team All-HCAC honors with middle hitters Amanda Lelivelt (2017) and Abby Sewell (2018-19) being recognized with the best of the conference.
As the top assistant with Northwestern Ohio, Garrett was tasked with coordinating team activities, setting travel accommodations, coordinating the offense and planning practices as part of a slew of duties for the Racers.
Franklin went 10-6 in the 2021 spring season with a 7-2 record in league play that earned the No. 3 seed in the HCAC Tournament. The Grizzlies will welcome back four starters from last year's team, including reigning HCAC Defensive Player of the Year Allison Thompson. For Garrett, it is a chance to re-connect and coach a group of players that she is not only familiar with but had a major role in their decision to choose Franklin.
"I'm so excited to come back and be able to coach this group of women," Garrett added. "Being able to coach some player I'm already familiar with will help the transition. I am also excited to help the underclassmen that I had the chance to meet in the recruiting process evolve in their volleyball careers. I'm excited to reconnect with them and get into the gym this fall."
