Hailey Franklin is entering her third year as the Assistant Sports Information Director at Lander University, having joined the staff in August 2024. She currently serves as the primary media contact for the Bearcat volleyball, women's basketball, softball, tennis, rugby, acrobatics & tumbling, and cheer & dance programs. In addition to her SID duties, Franklin also helps oversee all social media, graphics, and photography efforts for Lander Athletics.
During the 2025-26 academic year, Franklin helped the Lander Athletic Communications office earn Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Staff of the Year honors. Throughout the year, she assisted in the promotion and coverage of several championship events hosted on campus, including the Peach Belt Conference men's and women's soccer championships, the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Southeast Regional Championship, the NCAA Division II Super Region II Wrestling Championship, the Peach Belt Conference Men's Basketball Championship and the opening weekend of the Peach Belt Conference Baseball Championship. Franklin also traveled with the Bearcats to Indianapolis to cover the men's basketball team's historic run to the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship game, producing content across Lander Athletics' social media platforms.
Franklin’s creative work also received recognition from College Sports Communicators during the 2025-26 year. She placed fourth in Best of Division II for Major Awards & Championship Graphics, seventh in Best of Division II for Special Projects (Graphics) and 15th in Best of Division II for Game Day Graphics. Nationally, she placed seventh in the College Division for Major Awards & Championship Graphics and 10th in the College Division for Special Projects (Graphics).
A native of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Franklin came to Lander following a two-year stint as the Sports Information Graduate Assistant at Columbus State University, where she was the primary contact for softball, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s basketball, track and field, and cross country. She also supported the director with all aspects of athletic communications.
During her time at CSU, she was actively involved with the Girls In The Game planning committee, leading communication and marketing efforts for the 2023 and 2024 luncheons. These events featured high-profile speakers such as Tamika Catchings, WNBA Hall of Famer and four-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and Kristine Lilly, USA Soccer Hall of Famer and Olympic Gold Medalist.
Franklin earned her Master of Arts in Communications with a concentration in Creative Services Management from Columbus State in 2024.
She completed her undergraduate studies at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota, where she competed on the softball team in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She also assisted the Athletic Communications Department with game day operations and created content for SAAC social media platforms.
Franklin graduated Magna Cum Laude from BHSU in 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design.
