Wayne State University Athletics

UPDATED January 16, 2023

Frank Espy joined the Wayne State University football coaching staff in March of 2022 and served as defensive line coach this past fall.

In his inaugural season with the Warriors, he tutored two Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recipients in Jacob Mass and Charles Ellington.  In addition, defensive end Sean Banaszak led the squad in tackles for loss (8.0) and sacks (3.5).  As a unit, the WSU defense tied for the GLIAC lead (and tied-for-sixth nationally) with 13 fumble recoveries, while ranking 48th nationally in turnovers gained (20).  In addition, 11 of his student-athletes garnered Academic All-GLIAC honors, including four on the Excellence Team (cumulative GPA 3.5+).

The Vallejo, Calif. native, began his collegiate playing career at Mendocino (Community) College in Ukiah, Calif. and helped the Eagles to a Northern California Football Conference title in 2005.  Espy earned All-Bay Valley recognition and was selected as the 2005 Defensive Player of the Year.

After graduating from MCC in 2006, Espy played on the defensive line at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, for two years.

In 2007, Espy played in eight games, including a start vs. Arkansas Tech.  He totaled 22 tackles (14 solo, 8 assisted), including two half-tackles for loss and a fumble recovery against Southern Arkansas.

The following year, Espy started all 10 games helping the Tigers to a 7-3 record.  He finished with 38 tackles (21 solo, 17 assisted), including a career-high seven stops (3-4) vs. Southern Arkansas.  Espy garnered 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

After earning his bachelor's degree in Speech Communications from OBU in 2011, he then received a master's degree from Henderson State in Sports Administration in 2014. 

While pursuing his master's degree, he was the graduate assistant defensive line coach at OBU.  Espy served as the defensive backs coach at Mendocino in 2014 before being promoted to defensive coordinator the following year. 

He became one of the youngest head coaches in the nation in 2016 when he assumed the helm of the MCC football program.  His 2017 squad led the nation with 51 takeaways.  In addition, he coached Jamar King (Detroit Denby H.S.) for two years at Mendocino.  King was named to the Bay Valley All-Conference Team both seasons and was selected to the California Community Colleges All-California Region II First Team Defense in 2015, along with being voted the Region’s Defensive Player of the Year.  King went on to win a national title during his two seasons (2016 and 2017) at Alabama.

Espy was the offensive coordinator at Cabrillo (Community) College in Aptos, Calif. for two seasons (2018 and 2019).

He and his wife, Sheka, have two children, Kyla and Genesis.