Coaching Staff
in the Big 12, KU finished third. Along the way, the Jayhawks posted their first-ever win in program history against Big 12 rival Nebraska and defeated Border Showdown foe Missouri twice in Columbia, including a 2-0 win in the NCAA Tournament.
with 12 goals scored, Smith was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team, as well as Soccer Buzz’s Freshman All-America Third Team, Central Region All-Freshmen Team and All-Central Region Third Team.
Along with the team accomplishments, several players were honored for their efforts during the 2005 campaign, including Caroline Smith being named to several All-America teams as well as Holly Gault being selected as a Freshman All-American by Soccer Buzz. With Francis’ help, KU’s players etched their names in the record book, as Smith became the program’s all-time leader in goals, points and game-winning goals and Miller set the school mark in career shutouts and career GAA.
In 2001, Francis guided the Jayhawks to a 13-7-0 overall record and 7-3-0 Big 12 mark. For his efforts, Soccer Buzz named Francis the 2001 Central Region Coach of the Year, as he led his Jayhawks into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The Jayhawks finished the season ranked sixth in the Central Region, marking the ninth-best turnaround in the nation, improving five games from the previous season.
In 2002, Francis led Kansas to an overall record of 11-7-2, including a then-school record six-straight wins and a seven-game unbeaten streak during the first half of the season. The Jayhawks opened the season 6-1-1, marking their best start ever. Francis’ team ranked in the Central Region’s Top 10 for 10 consecutive weeks. During KU’s second consecutive winning season, Francis helped develop one of the most prolific freshmen in Jayhawk history, Caroline Smith. After setting a KU single-season record
The 2001 Kansas team shattered many school records, including more than 10 single-season individual, seven career and over a dozen team records. In addition, Francis saw four of his players - Pardis Brown and Hilla Rantala (second team), and Monica Brothers and Meghan Miller (freshman team) - garner All-Big 12 honors. In 1999, the Jayhawks set a team season record with eight victories and tied the KU record for home wins with five. Francis’ attack-oriented system contributed to single-season records for points (87) and assists (29). A 1987 graduate of Southern Methodist University, Francis was a three-time All-American selection for the Mustangs. As a senior, he was named SMU’s Male Athlete of the Year, the Dallas AllSports Association College Athlete of the Year and was selected to Soccer America’s All-College MVP Team. In addition, he was a two-time nominee for the Hermann Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding soccer player. Professionally, Francis played 10 seasons as a member of the Dayton Dynamos (NPSL), Mobile Revellers, Dallas Rockets (USISL) and the Orlando Lions (APSL). After being hired at South Alabama just a few weeks prior to the start of the 1996 season, Francis inherited a depleted roster and finished his first season with a 2-17 record. The following year, he led the Jaguars to an 18-3-1 mark, including an unbeaten regular season in Big South Conference play. The 16-win turnaround is still the biggest in NCAA Division I soccer history. His 1997 squad surpassed nearly every offensive school record at South Alabama, including goals scored. He was named 1997 Central Region Coach of the Year by Soccer Buzz Magazine.
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South Alabama finished 13-5 in 1998 and Francis earned Big South Conference Coach of the Year honors for the secondconsecutive year.