REACH HIGHER Football Academy

What's Included

The RHFB Academy is aimed solely at implementing football specific training that has been proven to produce results on the big stage.

Here Are Some of the On-Field Elements Included Within the RHFB Academy:

• Implementation of proven and successful offensive schemes
• Professional level qb mechanical instruction and drill mastery techniques
• Specific focus on route timing and anticipation
• Coverage recognition and decision making training
• Quarterback accuracy and correct drop sequencing
• WR route running techniques and strategies
• Proper catching technique
• Zone and man releases
• Development of sound footwork
• Stalk blocking technique
• Defensive back techniques and footwork
• Defensive man and zone techniques

Here Are Some of the Off-Field Elements Included Within the RHFB Academy:

• Video analysis (6-12th grade)
• Classroom work (6-12th grade)
• Confidence building and character lessons
• Recruiting exposure and social media promotion (9-12th grade)
• HUDL (9-12th grade)
• Recruiting help (9-12th grade)
• College visits (9-12th grade)

Coach Carl Franke

Coach Franke comes to Reach Higher from decades of playing and coaching experience. As a player, Franke was an All-State performer as a Quarterback, Place Kicker and Punter for Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, NY.

From there he took his skills to Wagner College in Staten Island, NY, where he started for four years as a Kicker and Punter for the Seahawks from 1994-97. Franke would also work as a Wide Receiver and started at that position his senior year as well as the 3rd string QB. Franke earned All-Conference and All-American honors as a placekicker at Wagner. He also is in the record books at Wagner for many kicking categories as well as holding the school record for longest punt, 75 yards. He later graduated with a bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate from Southern Utah University.

After college, Coach Franke began his coaching career at Dixie High School as an assistant coach under Coach Ray Odette and then Jake Nelson. He served as an offensive assistant from 2000-06.

After Dixie, Coach Franke became the Defensive Coordinator at Snow Canyon High School in 2007-08 and then Offensive Coordinator at Desert Hills from 2009-11.

In 2012, Coach Franke was named Head Coach for the Desert Hills Thunder. He was the Head Coach for 6 years accumulating a regular season record of 50-20 and 12-4 playoff record with State Championships in 2013 and 2016, and Coach of the Year in 2013. Coach has helped get over 50 players to the next level. Many to the Division 1 ranks. Currently, there are 4 players from Desert Hills under his tutelage that play Professional Football. One of them being an All-Pro Tackle and youngest to win the Outland Trophy in college football, Penei Sewell.

After Desert Hills, Coach Franke was hired in 2018 as a Running Backs Coach at Dixie State University. He was mentored by Head Coach, Shay McClure and Offensive Coordinator, Blake Rolan. The Trailblazers went 7-3 that season in the RMAC.

Coach Franke has volunteered his time as a coach for many other programs and has always had a great passion for teaching and coaching. That is why he started his own QB Training under the name "Franke Factory". Now he has joined up with Reach Higher to take the next step towards building a program for athletes to continue their journey towards their goals of playing at the next level.

Coach Elia Akau

Coach Elia joins the team at Reach Higher with almost 20 years of experience coaching and another 15 years of playing the sport he loves called football. As a player, he enjoyed his time in the Aloha State playing for one of the top teams in the state Kamehameha Schools in Kapalama, Hawaii.

From there, he got a scholarship to play football in the Midwest at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa in 2000. He spent one season there earning Freshman of the year for the conference as a Wide Receiver and Kick Returner. Upon leaving Iowa, he traveled west and transferred to Menlo College in Atherton, CA in the year 2001. He spent 3 years there playing for an independent school that was getting national recognition and rankings without being in any conference.

At the conclusion of his eligibility, Elia began coaching at San Jose City College in 2005. He spent one season there working with many great coaches and learning what it takes to coach the positions. At the conclusion of that season, it was time to move back home to Hawaii.

His first coaching job came from a small school named Pac-5 where he would be the receiver coach under Head Coach Kip Botehlo. After one season there, it was time to return back to his alma mater of Kamehameha Schools in 2008 under Head Coach David Stant. He spent the next 3 seasons there as the Wide Receiver coach and pass game coordinator. In 2009, the team would be State Champions in a season for the memories.

In 2011, he decided to begin a family and started to coach his oldest son Jayton in Pop Warner. As the seasons went along, he was able to become a Head Coach and build a staff of coaches that would put the players interest and development first. So many of the relationships he has built is still strongly kept through the years.

When 2021 came, he packed up and moved his entire family to St. George, Utah to give his son Jayton the opportunity to play his senior year since football wasn’t guaranteed in Hawaii. The move payed off and his son was able to compete with Crimson Cliffs High School and eventually earn his way on the roster at Utah Tech University.

When 2021 came, he packed up and moved his entire family to St. George, Utah to give his son Jayton the opportunity to play his senior year since football wasn’t guaranteed in Hawaii. The move payed off and his son was able to compete with Crimson Cliffs High School and eventually earn his way on the roster at Utah Tech University.