WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 2. 2005
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3B
Coach Francis breaks records, builds legacy
By MATT TORNOW
mtornow@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWITER
As the longest-running, winningest coach ever, coach Mark Francis has introduced many firsts for the Kansas women's soccer team.
In his first season, he led the team to its best record. In 2001, he lead it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. In 2003, Kansas defeated Nebraska for the first time in school history. That season ended with the team's first trip to the Sweet 16. This past season, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America named him Central Region Coach of the Year.
Before coming to Kansas, Francis was the coach of South Alabama University. He was hired in 1996 and finished his first season as coach with a record of 2-17. The following season he led South Alabama to an 18-3-1 record. The 16-win turnaround was the biggest in NCAA Division I soccer history.
Besides his coaching experience, Francis played professionally for 10 seasons with various
teams.
Francis' arrival in 1999 marked an arrival of Kansas soccer on the national scene. Since then, Francis' teams have recorded several team records, including consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 and 2004.
"It feels good," Francis said. "We have made progress and accomplished a lot in the past few seasons. It's exciting."
In his first season at Kansas, he led the women's team to its best record in the program's five-year history as a team. Francis showed the team and fans that he was at Kansas to win, tying the school record for wins at home. During the 2000 season, Francis took the Jayhawks to their first Big 12 tournament, in San Antonio.
In 2001, he lead his team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The squad broke more than 12 school records that season. He won his first regional coach of the year honor at the end of season.
After losing in the NCAA Tournament, Francis helped the
team start the 2002 season with a 6-1-1 record, the best start in school history.
In 2003, the Jayhawks ended the season 18-6-1, the best record in school history until this year. The team defeated Nebraska for the first time in school history. The Jayhawks also defeated Missouri twice in the same season — once in the regular season competition and once in the NCAA Tournament. The season also brought the team's first trip to the Sweet 16.
Kansas ranked among the top 10 in the national polls nine out of 11 weeks this past season. Francis led the Jayhawks to victory against a top-10 opponent, No. 7 Clemson, for the first time. At the end of the season, Francis gave credit to the seniors for a successful season.
Francis gained his 100th career victory on vs. Texas Tech on Oct. 1. Reaching that level was a prestigious moment for Francis.
He said this year's seniors left a considerable imprint in the future for Javhawk soccer.
"They have made the team one of the top-20 programs in the NCAA," Francis said," and that will be the legacy they leave here. When they came here four years ago, Kansas soccer was not
where it is at now, and a lot of that credit goes to those six players."
"At first I didn't even know it 'til a reporter told me, but it was a great milestone for me," Francis said. "What it means though is that I'm getting old, I've been doing this for a long time now. But I look forward to another 100 victories some day."
This season, the team won its first Big 12 championship but was defeated by Nebraska and forced to exit the NCAA Tournament in the second round.
"Next year we have a talented group coming back, young, but talented. I'm excited for next season. We hope to win it again, obviously." Francis said of the prospect of another Big 12 title. "You can't go backward as a team, you have to move forward. Our goal will be to win it again, and move forward."
Edited by Megan Claus
KANSAN file photo
Soccer coach Mark Francis gives directions during a practice. The soccer team's success last season included its first Big 12 Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Hockey officials face off as negotiation deadline nears
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — The NHL and the players' association will hold their next round of labor talks today in yet another undisclosed location.
During the last few days, emails were traded and the latest negotiating session was arranged. It was not immediately clear whether the NHL would offer a new proposal when the sides get together. The league
had not presented one as of last night.
Today's meeting will include the first face-to-face talks since last Thursday, when the sides wrapped up a two-day meeting that started in Toronto.
If this round doesn't lead to serious negotiations, time will likely run out on the hockey season soon after.
and player costs. The players' association says that is an unacceptable salary cap.
The NHL is still committed to getting a deal that provides a link between league revenues
The philosophical differences that existed between the league and the players on Sept. 16 — the first day of the lockout —
still exist four-and-a-half months later.
Through the 139th day of the lockout yesterday, 756 of the 1,230 regular-season games and this year's All-Star game had been lost.
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