HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
FRAN VOLL,
DELPHOS ST. JOHN'S / BOWLING GREEN
2003 RECIPIENT - Honorary Life
Member
Fran Voll had an illustrious career at the high school
and college level in coaching. He was in an administrative capacity at both
levels, introducing and implementing many changes to enhance the game of
basketball and athletics in general.
Coach Voll graduated from Marion Catholic High School, Bowling Green State
University (1968) with a Bachelor of Science degree and St. Francis College,
Ft. Wayne, Indiana with a Master of Science degree in 1972.
In his nine years as girls basketball coach at Delphos St. John's his team
made six appearances at the State Tournament, winning championships in 1977,
1978, and 1980. He compiled a tournament record of 53 wins and 6 losses.
This was by far the best tournament record in Ohio among active boys and
girls coaches. His teams recorded a record of 70 wins and only 2 losses in
eight years of league play. Coach Voll was twice named Associated Press
Coach of the Year and once by United Press International. In 1984 he was
named the Ohio High School Girls Basketball Coach Association Coach of the
Year for all classes. During this time he served on the Girls Coaches
Advisory Board for the OHSBCA in working for the betterment of coaching. One
of his players earned All-American honors and he had numerous All-State
players. While serving as girls head basketball coach at Delphos St. John's
he established the best percentage of wins record in the USA (92%) according
to USA Today, Thursday, March 20, 1984 - 208 wins - 17 losses.
While coaching at Bowling Green State University (7 years), Coach Voll and
his team established many records. BGSU won four consecutive Mid-American
Conference tournament championships and three regular season Mid-American
championships (1984-1990). They had four consecutive 20-win seasons with an
overall record of 144-60 (.706) and 89-27 in the Mid-American Conference
(.767). His team was ranked in national polls in the last three years that
he coached at BGSU with top 20-ranking in attendance at home games in the
1988-89 season. Fran was named Mid-American Coach of the Year for the
1986-87 and 1988-89 seasons. He led BGSU to the first appearance ever in the
Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament during the 1986-87 season and followed
that with appearances in 1987-88, 1988-89, and 1989-90 seasons. From 1991-96
Fran served as Associate Director of Athletics at BGSU.
While at Central Michigan University from 1996-2000, he administered all
phases of the girls basketball program, developed a network for recruiting
and directed summer basketball camps with 800 campers per year. He turned
the Women's basketball program around and earned a ranking of 14th in the
nation in the won-loss improvement.
Presently, Coach Voll is serving as Principal/Operations and Facilities
Manager for his former high school, Marion Catholic. At every stage of his
career he has been a member of professional of organizations and committees,
instituting improvements for the organizations and being an active member of
community groups such as Rotary and Chamber of Commerce.
Fran's family includes his wife, Marty, three sons and daughters-in-law and
grandchildren. Son Joe and wife Julie have three boys. Son Matt and wife
Amiee have a boy and a girl. Son Mike and wife Angie have a boy and two
girls. All the boys are in teaching and coaching.
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