Interview with Alvin Franklin, Senior Associate AD for Development/Executive Director of Development at The University of Houston

5 Min. Read

Anyone that knows Alvin will say not only is he one of the hardest working administrators, he is kind, giving, loyal, and loves to help uplift others. A former baseball student-athlete at Jackson State University, he went on to earn two Masters degrees, one from Mississippi State in Sports Administration and then from Purdue in Higher Education.

Alvin currently serves as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development/Executive Director of Development. Prior to Houston, he also had stops at Mississippi State, Purdue, the University of South Alabama, as well as the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Alvin got his start in Athletics Development at Mississippi State as a Graduate Assistant before a one-year stint as Sports Information Director and Assistant Baseball Coach at Hinds Community College.  

Why did you get into college athletics?

I got into college athletics to positively impact the lives of student-athletes and to be able to truly tell their stories. I grew up as an inner-city kid and saw firsthand how athletics could change a community. Athletics groomed me and taught me so many life lessons. I always told myself that I would want to be around it to help student-athletes coming behind me to take advantage of the opportunities being presented to them. I owe this industry way more than it owes me and do not take my “get to do” for granted!

As an administrator, did you face any barriers as you grew in the business? If so – how did you work through those?

I faced many barriers as I grew in the business. I had to learn patience as I did not know how to channel my aggressiveness. From the start, I had a chip on my shoulder and as I looked myself in the mirror, I was coming across as selfish. This led to me receiving many rejections as I pursued jobs that I was very interested in. I learned how to play my role and lean into my biggest strength of being a great teammate. Additionally, I started to let things come to me instead of feeling like I had to constantly chase something. I began to mature, and opportunities started to come my way, not just in title but also in responsibility. 

We all know the saying “it takes a village”. Can you tell us about the importance of your village in college athletics? 

My village has been so impactful to me! I contemplate naming names because I do not want to leave anyone out but there are certain people that I want to specifically shout out because their willingness to pour into me has led me to where I am today and will continue to guide me in my career.

Tim House (Deputy Athletics Director / Associate Vice President for Development – Purdue University):
Tim took a chance on me when most people would not have. I was very young in my career and was learning how to mature as a fundraiser. As an African American male in the development space, it meant everything to me to work for someone who would allow me to be myself. For the first time in my career, I could be myself and saw that there was a unique spot for me in this industry. 

John Cohen (Athletics Director – Auburn University):
I have known John since I was 13 years old, and he has been a true role model since Day 1. I will never forget October 13, 2019. During his previous stop, Mississippi State suffered a loss the night before to Tennessee and John was catching a lot of heat and he was not too busy to put others before himself. The next morning my mom passed away and he was the first person to reach out to check on me and I was not even working for him at the time. He has always expressed that he is only a phone call away and has lived by that during our entire relationship. 

Haven Fields (Deputy AD/Chief Operating Officer – University of Nebraska):
I look back on my first NACDA Convention as a graduate assistant in 2015. I met Haven in the lobby of the convention and after our first conversation he said, “Young Buck stick with me and you will be just fine.” From life advice, career advice, and countless introductions, he has put his arms around me and continued to lead me just as he said he would during our initial interaction. 

Allie Ware (Deputy AD/ Development – Georgia Southern University):
Hiring can be fun, but it is never easy. I have always been of the belief that people hire people not resume. When looking to fill our open Assistant AD for Major Gifts role at Mississippi State, I reached out to Allie. It was evident from that initial phone call that she could definitely do the job, but I was more blown away by her genuine personality. Bringing her on board was the easiest decision that I have made since being part of this industry but it turned out to also be the best one. She is the best teammate that I have ever had and has pushed me as a leader more than anyone. 

Terry Prentice (Deputy A.D. and General Manager/Student-Athlete Brand Services & Business Development – Mississippi State University) and Marcus Hilliard (Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief of Staff – University of Tennessee):
I could not separate these two because their friendship and brotherhood has made me a better professional and a better person. We have had different paths and have experienced success in different ways. Our talks have led me to think bigger and outside of the box. These guys are SPECIAL and there is no doubt that they both will be elite athletic directors. 

Most would say that you should never list people, but I would not feel right not specifically listing those above because of their honesty, transparency and genuine friendship. There are so many others, and I hope they know who they are. It is fitting that this question uses the word, “village” because I have never viewed the relationships that I have built as networking. My village has become family to me, and I know they say the best part of working in this industry is the people. I am so fortunate that I have been surrounded by so many people that I can call friends and lean on as I continue to grow and learn.

What is your proudest moment, so far, since working in college athletics?

My proudest moment since I began working in college athletics dates back to May 2017. I was an Assistant Baseball Coach at Hinds Community College. The team faced a lot of adversity, and we defied the odds and made the postseason. During the postseason run, we caught lightning in a bottle and clinched a berth in the JUCO World Series. When our players rushed out of the dugout to dogpile, it was such a special moment and one that I will never forget. We were able to accomplish this because the guys put all of their egos aside and came together as ONE. 

What advice do you have for young administrators trying to break into college athletics? 

My advice would be to be yourself as leaders want to be around those who are authentic. Good work ethic is irreplaceable, and you can stand out by being consistent in working hard and showing how much you care about improving on your craft. There are so many others that are pursuing the same dream as you so do not forget to network laterally as you pursue mentorship from those in senior level roles. Create a roadmap for yourself and be persistent in setting goals for yourself. 

Get to know you:

• Favorite food? I do not have a particular favorite food, but I have a major sweet tooth and can be found daily wandering the halls looking for the office with the best candy stash. 
• Favorite song? My favorite song is Lovely Day by Bill Withers. I take pride in having an old soul.
• Favorite thing to do outside of work? My favorite thing to do outside of work is to cook on the grill.
• Best professional opportunity you have taken part of? The best professional opportunity that I have been a part of was participating in the Inaugural SEC Opportunity Forum during the 2022 – 2023 Academic Year.