Jessie Franko HS

Jessie Franko

Jessie Franko enters her eighth year with the program during the 2022 season. She previously coached the Nittany Lions from 2009-12 and returned for the start of the 2018 campaign. Franko was named the United East Coach of the Year in 2021 and was previously selected as the NEAC South Division Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

Franko has compiled an overall record of 118-92 and 49-18 in conference contests dating back to the 2009 season. The Nittany Lions reached the NEAC Postseason every season under Franko's guidance from 2009-12 and returned again 2019 and 2021.

In the 2021 season, Franko guided Berks to a 17-15 overall record and were 8-0 in the United East (formerly NEAC). The Nittany Lions were regular season champions for the first time since 2017. In the postseason, Berks dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to SUNY Morrisville in the semifinal round. Franko was named the United East Coach of the Year and libero Marie Durkota was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. Durkota, Julia Rathsam, and Cassie Shoupe all earned first team recognition, while Kayla Zelonka was a second team selection.

During the 2019 season, Franko led the Nittany Lions to a 16-15 overall record and 7-4 mark in conference play. Berks returned to the NEAC postseason with a thrilling 3-2 win over Lancaster Bible College on the road in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinal round, the Nittany Lions fell to Morrisville State, who would go on to the NEAC Championship. In the 2019 season, Franko became the winningest volleyball coach at Berks, while also becoming the program's first 100-game winner. Franko had three student-athletes earn All-NEAC recognition. Julia Rathsam to the first team, Natalie Dwyer on the second team, and Zoe Barna to the third team.

In her return to the Nittany Lions in the 2018, the team finished with a record of 8-21 overall and went 5-6 in league play. Junior libero Madison Wojciechowski was named to the All-NEAC Third Team.

The 2012 squad finished with the third most wins in program history after going 19-10 overall. They went 9-2 in the NEAC to finish third in the standings. Berks defeated Penn State Abington in the quarterfinal round before falling 3-2 to Keuka College in the semifinals. Franko had three student-athletes (Kayla Mosser, Abby Musselman, Victoria Young) selected to the All-NEAC second team.

For the second straight season Berks reached the 20 win plateau after finishing 22-8 overall. They captured the regular season crown after finishing 10-0 in conference play. The Nittany Lions fell in the NEAC Championship game to Gallaudet University for the second straight season. Franko coached the 2011 Player of the Year (Amy Shelton) and had four student-athletes selected to All-NEAC teams. Amy Shelton and Victoria Young were first team recipients, Kaitlyn Schmeck was on the second team, and Kayla Mosser on the third team. In addition, Franko was named the NEAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season.

The 2010 squad went 25-9, setting a school record for wins and earning the programs first trip to the NEAC Championship, where the team was runner-up to Gallaudet. Franko was named the NEAC South Division Coach of the Year and four student-athletes (Amy Shelton, Suzi Shelton, Jerica Detsch, Glenda Ngo) were named to the All-NEAC first team.

In 2009, the Nittany Lions finished 11-14 in the first year under Franko's direction. The team won nine of its final 14 matches. The Nittany Lions lost in the NEAC semifinal to Keuka College. Three Berks student-athletes (Suzi Shelton, Jerica Detsch, Krista Stancombe) all earned spots on the NEAC Third Team.

Prior to Penn State Berks, Franko served as the Head Boys Volleyball Coach at Brandywine Heights High School.

Franko brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge to the program. In her time with Brandywine Heights High School she was able to take a team that went 1-14 in 2002 to a 15-0 District Champion in 2005 and 2006. In addition to her teams success, she was named the 2008 Berks County Coach of the Year.

Franko is an energetic coach who knows how to motivate her student-athletes during games. This was on full display in the Nittany Lions historic win against DeSales University on October 3, 2012. Berks mounted its first ever comeback victory when dropping the first two games of a match to earn a 3-2 win.

In addition to her position at Brandywine Heights, Franko served as the Club Director and Head Coach for the Topton Thundercats. In 2003, she developed a club team for boys in the Eastern Half of Berks County which has since grown to three teams playing in the USA Volleyball Keystone Region.
 
Overall NEAC
Year Wins Losses Wins Losses
2009 11 14 3 5
2010 25 9 7 1
2011 22 8 10 0
2012 19 10 9 2
2018 8 21 5 6
2019 16 15 7 4
2020* No Season due to COVID-19
2021 17 15 8 0
2022 19 10 6 2
Total 137 102 55 20