Fencing coach inducted into women's hall of fame

Nikki Franke, Temple’s fencing director and a health studies professor, was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame on Monday at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Franke was one of only three women in the world to receive the honor this year. She was inducted into the coaches’ wing of the Hall of Fame, which was established by the Women’s Sports Foundation.

“The entire Temple University community takes great pride in this very prestigious honor for one of our greatest coaches, Nikki Franke,” said Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw.

The Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, recognizes female athletes and coaches who have made history in women’s sports and are selected based on achievements, breakthroughs, innovative style and ongoing commitment to the development of women’s sports.

Some of the biggest names in women’s sports today, including basketball star Lisa Leslie, tennis great Martina Navratilova and Olympic skiing phenom Picabo Street, attended the ceremony.

A Brooklyn native, Franke started the fencing program at Temple in 1972 and has guided her team to 30 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Overall, she has coached 11 All-Americans, compiled a 444-113-1 (.797) record and is a four-time national coach of the year, most recently in 1991.

Franke was a member the 1976 and 1980 Summer Olympic teams and won a silver medal in the foil competition at the 1975 Pan American Games. In 1975 and 1980, Franke was the United States Fencing Association’s national foil champion. In 1995, Franke was inducted into the Temple University Hall of Fame.