ELMIRA, N.Y. – Director of Athletics Rhonda Faunce has announced the hiring of Twin Tiers native John Franchi as the next head coach for the Men's Wrestling program at Elmira College. Franchi takes over for CJ Bostwick, who left the program to pursue other opportunities.
"This is a very surreal moment for me, it really is," said Franchi. "I have been part of the wrestling community in this area for the past 30 years, either wrestling or coaching. It is a great honor to be selected to come on board and join the Elmira College Men's Wrestling program as the new head coach. I am very excited to work with these student-athletes and watch them grow this season. I look forward to helping to build this into a strong program and watching it produce some great athletes."
Franchi, a native of Elmira Heights, New York, is the current owner and head instructor at Fifth Round Fitness & MMA. Since 2010, he has instructed both adult and youth classes while also helping to train amateur and professional fighters. In 2018, Franchi established a youth wrestling club program and has been the head coach of the team since its inception. He also spent four years assisting Thomas A. Edison High School with its boy's wrestling program from 2007-2010.
"We believe we have found the right person to develop our Men's Wrestling team into a respected program," said Rhonda Faunce, Director of Athletics. "John will work tirelessly and enthusiastically to accomplish all tasks put in front of him. He has strong ties within the community and with section 4 and 5 Wrestling which will help him achieve ours and his goals."
As a high school wrestler, Franchi attended Thomas A. Edison, where he placed third in the Scholastic Freestyle division at the Empire State Games. He was also a member of the Glider Freestyle Club and Shamrock Wrestling Club, competing in Greco and Freestyle at summer tournaments from 1998-2002.
Franchi would start his collegiate wrestling career at Corning Community College, where he would go 18-10 as a starter in his lone season with the Red Barons. He would go on to place third at the 2002 NJCAA Regional Tournament for CCC and qualified for the JUCO National Tournament. He would transfer to SUNY Cortland and was a three-year starter for the Red Dragons as he compiled an overall record of 44-36.
Twice during his time with the Red Dragons, Franchi placed fourth in the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference and recorded a third-place finish in 2005-2006. He also represented SUNY Cortland at the NYS Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships and was a two-time NCAA DIII Scholar All-American competing at 157 pounds.
As a professional MMA fighter, he competed in both the International Fight League (IFL) and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) where he put together a 6-2 overall record. His six victories came via knockout (2), submission (2), and decision (2). His first victory was on October 27, 2007, via TKO as Franchi opened his career with five consecutive wins before dropping his first match via unanimous decision on June 7, 2009. His bout at WEC 44 against Cub Swanson in 2009 earned Fight of the Night honors in Las Vegas, while he would close out his career with a victory via decision on November 6, 2010, in Niagara Falls, New York.
Franchi earned his associate degree in business administration from Corning Community College in May 2004, while earning his Bachelor of Arts and graduating Cum Laude from SUNY Cortland in May 2007.
