Armani Franklin joined Norfolk State Athletics prior to the 2025-26 academic year as the department's Compliance Coordinator, returning to his alma mater after gaining valuable experience in NCAA compliance and student-athlete development at George Mason University and George Washington University.
In his role, Franklin assists with the day-to-day administration of Norfolk State's NCAA compliance program, helping ensure institutional, conference, and NCAA rules adherence while educating coaches, staff, and student-athletes on compliance matters. He supports eligibility certification, recruiting compliance, rules education, and monitoring systems while working collaboratively across the department to promote a culture of integrity and accountability.
Prior to returning to Norfolk State, Franklin served as Senior Student Program Associate for Student-Athlete Development at George Washington University, where he led career readiness, leadership development, community engagement, and student-athlete wellness initiatives. He also helped develop the department's GW REVS RISE program, coordinated educational programming, advised student-athlete affinity groups, and built partnerships with campus and community organizations to enhance the student-athlete experience.
Franklin previously worked as an Athletic Compliance and Academic Services Intern and graduate assistant at George Mason University, where he supported NCAA compliance operations, eligibility monitoring, rules education, and recruiting administration while serving as the compliance liaison for the women's basketball program. His responsibilities also included utilizing ARMS, LSDBi, and Compliance Assistant 2.0, assisting with audits, updating squad lists, and coordinating student-athlete development initiatives.
A two-time graduate of Norfolk State University, Franklin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs before completing a Master of Science in Sport Management and Recreation Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Administration at George Mason University. During his first stint at Norfolk State, he served as both a Student-Athlete Academic Services Intern and Athletic Compliance Intern, helping oversee eligibility monitoring, recruiting operations, and academic support for more than 250 student-athletes.
