Kansas University's Mark Francis has been named Central Region coach of the year by Soccer Buzz magazine, and Jayhawks Pardis Brown and Hilla Rantala were named to the magazine's All-Central Region teams.
Francis, KU's third-year coach, guided the Jayhawks to a school-best 13-7 record this past season, which culminated in KU's first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
It was Kansas' first winning season in school history.
Francis received the honor for the second time in his career. In 1997 Francis was honored by Soccer Buzz an online magazine dedicated to NCAA Div. I soccer after manufacturing the biggest turnaround in NCAA Div. I soccer history (by number of wins, season to season) at the University of South Alabama.
Brown, a junior defender, was selected to the All-Central second team for the second straight year.
Last year, the Salt Lake City product became the first Kansas player ever to earn regional honors when she was selected to the Soccer Buzz second team and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's third team.
Rantala, a senior from Helsinki, Finland, became KU's all-time leading scorer in 2001. She led the Jayhawks in points (32), goals (10) and assists (12) this season.
Soccer Buzz' Central Region is made of 63 schools. Honorees were chosen by Div. I head coaches and the Soccer Buzz staff.
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