Posted August 24, 2022
After 50 years of fencing success, Coach Nikki Franke announces retirement
The longest-tenured head coach in Temple history retires as the university’s all-time winningest women’s athletics coach.
Photography By:
Joseph V. Labolito
Nikki Franke announced that she was retiring from her position as Temple’s fencing coach during a media conference on Tuesday, where she also introduced her successor, Jennie Salmon.
Nikki Franke, who has led Temple’s fencing program to 50 years of success, has announced her retirement. The former two-time Olympian departs as the longest-tenured head coach in the history of Temple Athletics. Her achievements include leading Temple Fencing to 898 wins, a winning record in 48 of her 50 seasons as head coach, an NCAA Championship in 1992 and an active streak of 26 straight National Intercollegiate Women’s Fencing Association Championships.
“I have enjoyed every minute of my time at Temple coaching so many amazing young women. It has never felt like work, more a labor of love. I will miss leading the program, but I am leaving it in great hands with one of my former fencers and an outstanding coach, Jennie Salmon,” Franke said.
