Hofstra announces hire of Jamie Franco as new wrestling coach

Hofstra hired Jamie Franco as its new wrestling head coach, according to a release from the program.

This move comes on the heels of former coach Dennis Papadatos stepping down as coach and taking on an administrative role. Franco, an alum of the school, returns after a year at Columbia as an assistant coach.

Franco was officially named the 13th head coach in program history Monday.

“I am tremendously excited to return to Hofstra as head wrestling coach,” Franco said. “This has been home to me for more than a decade and I could not envision a better place for me to start my head coaching career. I want to thank President Poser, Rick Cole Jr., and members of the search committee for placing their trust in me to lead this great program. I cannot wait to get started.”

Franco previously served on the Hofstra staff from 2016-23, with the final two seasons in the associate head coach role.

It is with great excitement that we welcome Jamie back to the Hofstra family,” AD Rick Cole Jr said. “Jamie was a decorated student-athlete and valued member of our staff for many years, and his knowledge of the sport is exceptional. He is well-respected in the wrestling community and we look forward to him leading our program to great heights.”

Franco wrestled for Hofstra from 2009-14 and was part of three CAA championship teams while serving as team captain. He was a conference champion and two-time finalist for Hofstra. Franco finished his time with the Pride with 75 individual wins.

A three-time NCAA qualifier, Franco brings a boost to the program after the coaching change.

“Good Luck to my Good Friend,” Papadatos wrote on Twitter. “Could not be happier for you.”

Following his graduation, Franco served as operations manager of the Longo and Weidman MMA Training Center in Garden City, New York. He was in charge of marketing and advertising campaigns, managed accounts, controlled inventory and supervised the non-fighting staff at the facility. Shortly after starting at Longo and Weidman MMA, Franco added the double duty of owner and head coach at the LAW Wrestling Academy, also in Garden City, handling scheduling, coaching, and conducting practices for wrestlers and fighters from the ages of 5 through 30 while also implementing the marketing and advertising campaign for the Academy.

Once he left Hofstra for Columbia, Franco helped coach the Lions to a fourth place finish in the EIWA with two champions and three NCAA qualifiers.