Kuhlmann resigns as Franklin boys’ basketball coach

After three years of roaming the sidelines during Franklin boys’ basketball games, Joe Kuhlmann announced his resignation earlier this week.

Kuhlmann is going back to school to earn his master’s degree. “It’s always kind of been a career goal to get my master’s and get into administration,” Kuhlmann said. “So it’s kind of just the right time.”

Kuhlmann, who is originally from Beardstown, served as Franklin’s head coach for three years after spending two seasons as an assistant. He’s also helped out with New Berlin-Franklin-Waverly football and softball. “It was a great experience,” Kuhlmann said. “There’s a lot of good people in Franklin and the administration and the school board has always been supportive, and my athletic director, Rick Smith, is one of the best. They’re good kids that worked hard, and it was a good experience, that’s for sure.”

Kuhlmann compiled a three-year record of 31-46 at Franklin, which included a 1-22 mark in 2005-06. Kuhlmann’s team posted a 12-15 record in the 2006-07 season before a breakout 19-8 campaign last season.

The 2007-08 season marked the most wins in a season for Franklin since the 1992-93 school year, when current Carrollton coach Jeff Krumwiede was the school’s head coach.

Kuhlmann will begin work on his master’s starting this summer at the University of Illinois at Springfield. He’ll continue assisting New Berlin football coach Jeff Harres this fall, but wonders what he’ll do when high school hoops heats up this winter.

“It’ll be really different next winter on Tuesday and Friday nights, looking for something to do,” Kuhlmann said. “It’ll be kind of different not seeing kids in the hallway, telling them about summer plans.”