As he sits in the stands of the Rhodes-Reaves Field House watching the Harding University men\u2019s basketball team, Harding Academy Head Boys\u2019 Basketball Coach Brad Francis is forced to manage two different personas: basketball coach and father.<\/p>\n
For the last six years, Brad has watched his sons don the black and gold. In 2013, Will Francis signed with the Bisons and played until 2017, when he shared the practice floor with his younger brother Alex Francis, who was a redshirt freshman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fun in a way, because you can just go watch the games and not do the coaching part,\u201d Brad said. \u201cYou still ride the ups and downs that go with the season a little bit, but it\u2019s certainly not like when you\u2019re the coach and you\u2019re in the part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brad graduated from Harding in 1989 before becoming the head coach of the Harding Academy girls\u2019 team. The Francis name became a part of Harding lore when Brad was hired as the Lady Bisons\u2019 new head coach.<\/p>\n
As a result, Will and Alex were born into sports and the Bison brand.<\/p>\n
\u201cEver since I was born, I had a ball in my hands,\u201d Alex said.\u201cWe would always come up [to Harding] and just kind of play whenever dad came to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two boys were competitive with each other from an early age, which, according to Will, has helped Alex grow as a player and a man.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would come out on top a lot, just because I was older and bigger,\u201dWill said.\u201cBut I think he would say it has helped him, always being around me and my dad and watching us go through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
But, as Alex learned from his brother and father, expectations also began to form. In his freshman season, Will was named to the All-GAC Freshman Team. He would average more than 10 points per game every season in his Harding career. In his senior season, Will shot .500 from behind the three-point-line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there probably is some [pressure] no matter if I was good or not,\u201d Will said. \u201cBut he has handled it really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex was not highly recruited out of high school. Following his brother\u2019s footsteps as a product of Harding Academy, the sophomore said he always knew he would end up at Harding.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarding was just the option,\u201d Alex said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m grateful for it, too. I think this is the best spot for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ever since I was born, I had\u00a0a ball in my hands. We would always come up [to Harding] and just kind of play whenever dad came to work.\u00a0\u2013 Alex Francis,\u00a0<\/span>redshirt sophomore guard<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
His freshman year, Alex was able to once again learn and compete with his brother as he spent the year on the sideline as a redshirt. In that time, Alex had the chance to learn his role and see the differences between his game and his brother\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a better scorer than I am,\u201d Alex said. \u201cI\u2019m more of a \u2018get it to other guys\u2019 guy. I kinda just run the offense.\u201d Now, Alex is carrying on his family name as well as the\u00a0legacy and pressure that comes along with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn high school, I felt the pressure a little bit more than I do here,\u201d Alex said. \u201cI\u2019m just more mature. I just kinda\u00a0think \u2014 there\u2019s not that much pressure to really think about.\u201d<\/p>\n
One thing that helps quell the nerves: the support of a father and brother watching on, supporting him every step of the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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