Barney Francis

On May 5, 1949, University of Toledo president Wilbur W. White announced Francis' appointment as athletic director. He was chosen over Charles Wertz, a former Toledo coach and city government official, who had the support of many in the city's industrial community.^[9] When Wertz was passed over, these men withdrew their financial support from Toledo's athletic programs, which forced Barney to run his department on a shoestring budget.^[10] In 1953, Francis, who felt that the university would attract a better football coach by pairing the job with the position of athletic director, submitted his resignation to president Asa S. Knowles.^[11] On January 19, 1954, Forrest England was named head football coach and athletic director at the University of Toledo.^[12]

Four months later, Knowles brought Francis back as the business manager of the athletic department.^[13] 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.^[14] He also served as director of the local district and regional high school basketball tournaments, which were held at the University of Toledo's Field House.^[15] In 1957, he served as interim athletic director following the dismissal of Forrest England.^[16] Francis resigned as business manager in 1973. The following spring he completed his twentieth and final season as Toledo's golf coach.^[17]

Francis died on August 9, 1978, at St. Luke's Hospital after suffering an apparent heart attack at his Perrysburg, Ohio home. He was 68 years old.^[2]