Otterbein University Athletics

An all-around performer, Arthur "Barney" Francis received a total of 10 varsity letters while playing four sports for Otterbein. He garnered in football, basketball, baseball and track.

Francis, class of 1933, was an All-Ohio quarterback in 1931 as well as an All-Ohio forward in basketball in 1933 and served as a 2x team captain both in hoops and on the football gridiron. He also carried his talents into track and field each spring, where he laced up in the high and low hurdles, the broad and high jumps, and also the javelin.

The versatile Francis ultimately graduated holding Otterbein’s school record in the javelin with a throw of 170'9".

After graduation from Otterbein, Francis served in various coaching and administrative roles at a number of high schools in the Ohio area. In 1949 it was announced that Francis would serve as the Athletic Director for The University of Toledo which he held until 1954. Four months later,  Francis was brought back as the business manager of the athletic department. In 1956, he was given the duties of the athletic auditor, which included budgetary control of the athletic department as well as oversight of the ticket sales, gate receipts, rentals, and advertising.  Francis resigned as business manager in 1973. The following spring he completed his twentieth and final season as Toledo's golf coach.