Grinnell College Athletics

Jeffrey Frantz '66 earned his place in the Hall of Fame place through his efforts on the basketball court and the football field. Frantz played basketball in 1964, 1965, and 1966; as a senior in 1966, he decided add football to his schedule. Under the tutelage of Coach John Pfitsch, Frantz proved himself extremely valuable to the basketball team by claiming the record for most points scored as a sophomore (391) and earning an All-Conference Honorable Mention. The next two years, 1965 and 1966, proved even more exciting; he earned First-Team All-Conference status both years. His method was simple. In 1965, he made set three scoring records - most field goals in a game (22), most points in a game (46), and most points for a season (509). In 1966, he also claimed the record for most career points, totaling 1,312 points in three seasons of basketball. These records stood until 1994. He also led the team in rebounds in 1965 and 1966. He once garnered 31 rebounds in one game against Monmouth. In his lone season on
the gridiron, Frantz led the team in receiving, garnering All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. After graduation, Frantz joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Panama. There, he played and coached basketball on a number of teams from 1967-69. Upon leaving Panama, he was signed by O Futebol Clube do Porto as the first American player/coach. O Futebol Clube do Porto was one of the top three sports clubs in Portugal, where Coach Pfitsch was coaching on sabbatical. Frantz took his team to a fourth-place finish out of 12 teams in the First Division, an amazing feat given the team's history. Since then, Frantz has entered the Christian ministry. He graduated from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., with a master of divinity degree, and later earned a doctor of ministry. He has served churches in California, New York, and Florida, where he now lives.