Jamie Franco Named Hofstra's Head Coach

The first day of July marked a new beginning for Hofstra’s wrestling team as they announced their new head coach. Hofstra fans don’t need an introduction as it is a familiar face - Jamie Franco. Franco, a Hofstra alum, returns to the team after spending the 2023-24 season on the Columbia coaching staff. 

During his only year at Columbia, the Lions finished tied for fourth place in the EIWA and sent four wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. One of them, Lennox Wolak, earned All-American honors and was the first Columbia wrestler to do so in over a decade. 

Before moving to Columbia, Franco spent seven years on the Hofstra staff under the previous head coach, Dennis Papadatos. During those final two seasons, Franco held the title of associate head coach. 

Almost two months ago, to the date, Papadatos stepped down from his post to pursue a position within the Hofstra athletic department. 

As a student-athlete, Franco qualified for the NCAA Tournament on three occasions. As a junior, Franco won a CAA title and won a pair of matches at nationals. His senior season was the school’s first in the EIWA and Franco finished fifth in the nation’s largest conference. 

Franco won 75 matches in a Hofstra singlet and was a team captain. During his competitive career, Franco was a starter on three CAA championship-winning teams. 

Hofstra does not return any wrestlers with past NCAA experience; however, they bring back eight of the ten wrestlers who competed in the 2024 EIWA Championships.