Ex-Husky Bailey named interim Franklin coach

The task would seem overwhelming, but Mario Bailey has never paid much attention to the odds.

That's part of what brought him back to his alma mater, Franklin High School, where yesterday the former University of Washington star was announced as the interim head football coach following the retirement of longtime coach Joe Slye.

Bailey, 33, inherits a program struggling with low turnout, limited resources and a recent history of losing. Entering last night's game against Woodinville, the Quakers had posted a 15-50 overall record since joining the KingCo 4A Conference in 1997 and had a 12-game losing streak dating to the final game of the 2002 season.

A turnaround won't happen overnight. But Bailey said that, given time and the right group of coaches, change could take place. And despite the interim label, he says he wants to be in it for the long haul.

"I felt like I could take us over the hump," said Bailey of why he wanted the job.

Bailey helped the Quakers to back-to-back Metro League Class 4A titles in 1986 and '87 before going to Washington, where he starred as a 5-foot-9, 157-pound wide receiver on the 1991 national-championship team.

He still holds Huskies records for touchdown receptions in a career (30) and season (18), and ranks second all-time in career receiving yards (2,306).

After college, Bailey played professionally from 1992 to 2002, including six seasons with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe, where he set numerous receiving records and won two World Bowl championships (1995 and '99). He also had stints in the NFL, the now-defunct XFL and the Arena League.

Bailey said his story shows that it is possible for the underdog to overcome.

"Looking at my size, nobody would think I could have ever played football," he said, drawing a comparison to the way some people view the Franklin football program.

Bailey, who played in high school alongside current Quakers coaches Terry Green, Noah Ramsey and Randy McWilliams, said he would keep his approach simple.

"I might add a few wrinkles here or there, but they've had two-a-days and gone through camp," Bailey said. "You can't do that (make major changes midway through the season) in high school."

Slye, who was entering his 21st season as head coach, compiled a 92-91 record at Franklin. He led the Quakers to seven state-playoff appearances, including semifinal berths in 1990 and '91.

Slye will remain at the school as a physical-education teacher, according to Franklin principal Jennifer Wiley. Slye started as a student teacher at Franklin in the early 1970s. He said he resigned to deal with some "personal things going on in the family."

"It was a challenge," he said of his tenure as head coach. "It was never dull. It was always interesting, and I enjoyed the time. It was fun."

Bailey had high praise for his former coach.

"When I was there Coach Slye was the best people-person in the world," he said. "He got us all to think that we were family.

"I was there when we won the first (league) championship in 34 years," said Bailey of the 1986 Quakers. "I believe I can get us back to a KingCo championship."

Matt Peterson: 206-515-5536 or mpeterson@seattletimes.com