By KAYLEE JO NEELEY, For the Northwestern News
After making a hurried phone call to her husband and going on a 56-mile trip, Northwestern alumna Kylie Franz arrived at the hospital. Despite spending 17 hours under the close watch of doctors, she finally experienced one of the most memorable moments in her life.
At 4:31 p.m. Dec. 6, 2018, Franz birthed her first child, Emma.
Franz, a former Northwestern basketball coach, had always dreamed of becoming a mother. It’s one of her greatest accomplishments, she said.
Now, she’s changed her career path to embrace the journey of motherhood mother.
“Becoming a mom is the most rewarding but challenging thing I have done,” Franz said. “It is not at all like I pictured it would be, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
LOOKIN’ FOR LOVE AND PLAYING BASKETBALL
Kylie and her husband, Jordan Franz, met at the beginning of her freshman year of college. She said he was shooting hoops in the gym and walked over to her and introduced himself. Two years after that encounter, he proposed.
They got married in September of her junior year, and they spent the first six months apart. Jordan was coaching at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and Kylie was in Weatherford, playing her junior year of basketball at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Although Kylie said she loved playing college basketball, she decided not to play during her senior year. She was graduating in May and didn’t want to spend another year living apart from her husband, so she decided it was time to give up the game.
She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 2016. In 2018, she graduated with a master’s degree from Northwestern.
Franz and her husband, Jordan Franz, have two children. Emma turned 3 in December. Their second child, Jimmer, was born in November.
LESSONS LEARNED AND FRIENDSHIPS MADE
Franz said one of the most important things to remember as a mother is to just show up for your children.
“I don’t ever want to miss out on anything my children do,” Franz said.
Franz said she believes her greatest purpose in life is to make sure that her children know they are taken care of and loved deeply. She said she learned how important this is when she formed a bond with her Grandpa Jim, who always made sure his family was taken care of.
James Boggess, Franz’s father, said Franz is too humble to admit she is an amazing mother to both of her children.
He said it is apparent she enjoys being a mother.
“There is no greater gift than to be loved by this amazing woman,” Boggess said.
Jordan said one of Kylie’s greatest qualities is that she is a loving mother.
“Seeing how much she loves being a mom and how she enjoys taking care of our kids — it really has been amazing to watch,” he said.
Even before pursuing her collegiate career, Kylie used basketball as a way to show friendship and dedication.
She met her lifelong friend, Ashley Almond, through high school basketball. However, Almond didn’t see her as a friend until their years at Piedmont High School.
Before they were friends, Almond said that she was intimidated by Franz but eventually came to think of her as a big sister. Franz took Almond under her wing and would drive her to practice every day, which is where their friendship started, she said.
Almond tore her ACL and had to sit out for part of her senior year of high school. When Franz found out, she wrote on her basketball shoes to honor her injured teammate.
“She wanted to do this to remind herself to give it her all while playing,” Almond said. “This is just another example to show how big of a heart she has for others.”
Almond has been friends with Franz for more than 10 years and said she has seen her press through many obstacles.
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND INJURIES
For more than three years in college basketball, Franz played with torn ligaments in her shoulder. Boggess said there were some days when she wouldn’t even be able to lift her shooting arm.
“No matter how bad she hurt, she was always there for her teammates on game day,” Boggess said.
After Franz got to compete in the NCAA national tournament her sophomore year of college, she had to undergo surgery.
“I think I have always admired her toughness,” Jordan Franz said. “She never complained, wanted to sit out or quit.”
Even though her injury was one of the greatest difficulties in her life, Franz said, she still got to play the sport she loved.
Boggess said the most amazing thing to see was Franz’s determination to be on the basketball court.
“She has always been driven to be the best at what she attempts,” Boggess said.
FORGING A NEW CAREER PATH
After she received her bachelor’s degree, she worked as the assistant athletic director at Southwestern for three years.
Franz then worked at Northwestern for five years as a graduate assistant and assistant coach for the women’s basketball team.
Then, she realized she wanted to change course.
In June, she started a job as a parent educator at Northwest Family Services. A parent educator help parents gain the knowledge and skills they need to raise physically, mentally and emotionally healthy children, she said.
Boggess said Franz has a big heart for the people around her.
“She will work harder than anyone,” Boggess said. “She pushes herself hard, but at the same time, she will always help those who are struggling.”
Franz said she realized that, with her baby coming, she wasn’t going to have enough time because of her old job to spend time with her children.
“This job allows me to be home more with my children,” Franz said.
Franz’s boss, Kathy Gordon, said she has seen some of Franz’s best attributes on the job.
“Kylie’s best quality is the ability to treat each and every person equally and not judging them based on their current situation,” Gordon said.
Franz said her parents are some of her greatest influences, as they taught her to be dedicated and to support others.
“They always showed up, whether it was a sporting event or an event for school,” she said. “They never missed anything.”
Franz said she has learned to believe that life isn’t all about work. She believes people should enjoy life in spite of the trials they face.
“Through it all, Kylie has not let it change who she is,” Almond said. “She still loves people deeply and finds ways to keep moving forward.”
