Hill College welcomes former student and assistant coach Ivan Franco as head coach of men’s soccer

Hill College is pleased to announce that former assistant soccer coach Ivan Franco will take over as head coach of the men’s soccer team from Dejan (Milo) Milosevic, who took a position at the University of North Texas in Denton.

Franco, a native of Gainesville, Texas, was recently promoted to the head coach position of the men’s soccer team after serving as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams during the 2023–2024 season.

“It is always great when former student-athletes come back home to Hill College. Ivan was leader on the field as a former men’s soccer player and will work hard to be successful as the new men’s soccer coach,” said Dean of Students and Athletics Randy Graves.

During his time as assistant coach, Franco helped lead the Hill College men’s team to a record of 7-5-4, winning the regional championship and advancing to the district championship, where they narrowly missed a spot in the national tournament. The women’s team had a notable season as well, finishing with a record of 13-3-2. They won both the region and district championships, and ended the season with a strong showing at the national tournament.

Franco brings a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach. He completed his soccer career at the University of Texas at Permian Basin (UTPB), an NCAA Division II school in the Lone Star Conference, where he started five games and made seven appearances before a season-ending injury. He began his coaching career as a volunteer student assistant coach at UTPB and spent three consecutive years volunteering and assisting at Gainesville High School during winter breaks.

Prior to UTPB, Franco played at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia, contributing to a school record of 26-3-3 over two seasons and helping the team reach the NCAA tournament while being nationally ranked.

He began his collegiate soccer career at Hill College, where he served as a captain from 2018–2020, leading the team to a Region V Championship and a district tournament appearance with a combined record of 22-9.

“I am blessed to have the opportunity to return to where my collegiate journey began, but now as the head coach. Hill College has always held a special place in my heart since the day I first stepped on campus as a player in 2018. Now, as an alumnus, I am honored to lead this program and give back to the program that shaped me into who I am. This full-circle moment wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support I’ve received, and I look forward to achieving great things on the Hill,” said Franco.

Franco received his associate degree in kinesiology from Hill College. He then attended Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia, where he received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science, and then went on to complete his master’s in sports administration at Southeastern Oklahoma State, graduating in May 2024.

For more information on the men’s soccer team and Hill College athletics, visit hillcollegeathletics.com.