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May 2, 2017

Stanley Franks | Chapter Two In The Den

Stanley Franks is back where he belongs. And if all had gone according to plan, maybe the new assistant defensive backs coach never would have left. After settling into his “new” digs at the Surrey practice facility, the 30-year old reflected on July 8th, 2011.

It was that night, during a 34-32 loss to the Calgary Stampeders at Empire Field, where Franks suffered a career-ending knee injury that almost had life-altering consequences.

“I had to sign a paper saying my leg could be amputated when I woke up (after surgery). It was then when I recognized how severe the injury was,” recalled Franks.

“I was blessed to not only wake up but be able to feel my leg when I reached for it. It was definitely scary but I was fortunate to have my Uncle with me at the game that night.”

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Although Franks would miss out on setting any records in the den or perhaps pursue a childhood NFL dream, his eye-opening setback helped pave the way for something he planned on doing when he retired anyway. Coaching.

In fact, we dug up a Q&A he did with BCLions.com in 2010 and coaching was the answer he gave when prompted about what he would be doing if he weren’t playing.

“It’s pretty exciting to be back where my CFL career started and to be with so many familiar faces, guys you’re familiar with and guys you have been through stuff with,” said Franks.

It helps having played for Mark Washington, the man he is now reporting to under the Lions’ defensive hierarchy.

The familiarity become even more real after Franks spent 2015 training camp as a guest coach with the club in Kamloops. It was during that tenure where he discovered a couple of young gems in the secondary he is now coaching, specifically Ronnie Yell, TJ Lee and Steven Clarke. All look ready to be better than ever as they come off their respective injuries.

“I’m excited. I know Ronnie and the intensity he brings. I mess with him that he reminds me of Dante Marsh, just with the swagger and that intensity he brings. He’s very explosive out of his breaks. Clarke is the same thing. Those are great guys to start out with and the sky is the limit with those guys,” added Franks.

Yell is extra motivated to make up for lost time and eclipse the career year he had in 2015. Having a fresh set of eyes coaching his position should go a long way too.

“Stanley is a great guy, a real players coach,” said Yell. “He is one of those guys you can approach with any situation, any problem. He is more our age so he understands the game from our point of view.

He’s just a good dude to talk to. Back at that 2015 camp he gave us all kinds of advice Mark couldn’t, simply because coach Washington was busy overseeing the entire defence and not just the DB’s.”

As athletic and charismatic as his players are, Franks knows one reason he is here is to help reverse one negative trend of the entire defence from 2016. That is improving on the CFL-worst nine interceptions they created. He knows a thing or two about it after leading the entire NCAA with nine interceptions in his senior season at Idaho.

“I feel like the name of the game is turnovers. It’s the same for any coach. You win the turnover battle, you win the game.”

Stanley Franks Hero

“I hope to just help out with that aspect with my knowledge of attacking the football and when we’re in zone coverage being in position to break on the football.”

Franks’ first big coaching break came while he was working with the Arena League Spokane Shocks and caught the eye of then- Idaho State head coach Mike Kramer.

“He offered me a defensive backs coach position. I thought about staying in Spokane because I had a good setup there,” explained Franks.

76195959“Eventually people told me if I was serious about coaching I shouldn’t to turn down a job in US College Football.”

Graduating to the NCAA Division I ranks helped lead to Stanley’s second chapter in the BC Lions family. At first glance, both he and his athletic stable of defensive backs will be better for it.

“Any guy who ever led a team or league in interceptions, you have to give them the respect they are due,” added Yell.

“It’s exciting to work with a guy like who understands the feeling and understands how to get the ball and how to position yourself. It’s going to be a fun camp.”

Things happen for a reason. You can bet the football gods had that in mind as Stanley went into surgery almost six years ago.

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com