OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Johnson County Community College director of athletics Randy Stange has announced today the hiring of Jeff Cole as the new men's head soccer coach. He is the sixth head coach in the program's history. He inherits a Cavaliers team that finished 12-6-3 and were runner-up in the Plains District Tournament in 2019.
"After a thorough search, we could not be more pleased to introduce Jeff Cole as the next head coach of our men's soccer program," said Stange. "Jeff is a person of high character, with a tremendous work ethic, a passion for the game and possesses the ability to build successful teams both on and off the field. We are excited that the next chapter of his journey will be at JCCC leading our student-athletes."
Cole comes to JCCC after a seven-year stint with the women's soccer program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In December of 2019, Cole was appointed the interim head coach of the Roos women's program, after head coach Chris Cissell departed the program.
"I am extremely excited about this incredible opportunity," Cole said. "I am grateful to the Director of Athletic Randy Stange, administrative assistant Betsy Timm and head women's soccer coach Jim Schwab for trusting me with the leadership of the Johnson County men's soccer program. I am honored to have the chance to build upon the great tradition already established at the opportunity to make JCCC a national power."
"I know the potential of the team and with the support of the passionate and loyal fans to fill the brand new soccer complex, I believe we can turn it into a power within the NJCAA. I am excited to be part of an incredible athletics environment, and work with Randy and Betsy who I cannot thank enough for the confidence they have in me and the opportunity to become a Cavalier."
Prior to his appointment as interim coach, Cole served as associate head coach at UMKC from 2015-19, and assistant coach from 2013-15. During his time with UMKC, Cole was honored as the WAC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 while helping the program to a winning mark in six of his seven seasons. In 2014, the Roos finished as co-champions of the Western Athletic Conference, the first title in team history. In 2017, UMKC captured the WAC championship, the program's first outright title, and a year later repeated as conference champions while recording a program record 16 wins. Overall, UMKC finished 88-46-15 (.639) overall, and were 44-12-7 (.754) in WAC play. The program reached the semifinals of the WAC Tournament every season, with four runner-up finishes.
Cole also oversaw the goalkeepers at UMKC, and in his seven years the Roos netminders made a significant impact in the team's history. Each of the seven year-end goals-against-averages of his goalkeepers rank among the top 10 all-time, including a record 0.75 in 2015, and six of the of the seven seasons their save percentage totals are in the top 10, including a record .873 also set in 2015. Overall, UMKC keepers recorded 63 shutouts, including a record 11 in 2017.
Under Cole, goalkeeper Nina Tzianos enjoyed some of the best individual seasons in program history. In 2013, she set season records for wins (12), shutouts (8), minutes (1970), and had third-most saves with 98. The following season she set school records for goals against (17), goals against average (0.84) and tied her record her record of eight shutouts. She also led the WAC in GAA that season and was a first-team all-conference and third-team NSCAA All-West Region selection. In 2015, Tzianos broke her record for goals against average (0.76) and recorded the second-best season save percentage (.873). She finished her career as the all-time leader in wins (33), shutouts (24) and minutes played (6,230).
In 2018, Afton Fennewald set new season marks for wins (13) and shutouts (9). She also led the WAC with a goals against average of 0.43 On UMKC's career charts, Cole mentored four of the top five keepers in saves, goals against average, wins and shutouts.
Overall, Cole helped mentor one Top Drawer Freshman All-American, 10 Coaches Association All-Region selections, two WAC Offensive Players of the Year, two WAC Defensive Players of the Year, two WAC Freshmen of the Year, 28 WAC performers, and 19 WAC All-Tournament performers. Off the field, the program produced one Coaches Association Scholar All-American, three Coaches Association All-Region Scholars, one ESPN Academic All-District and 83 WAC Academic All-League student-athletes.
Cole began his career as a men's assistant coach at McPherson in 1997-98. After a 4-13-0 mark in 1997, the Bulldogs improved to 8-10-0 in 1998 and reached the quarterfinals in the KCAC Tournament. Their eight victories also tied the second-most in program history.
In October of 1997, he joined the Wichita Wings, where he served as a developmental player, team manager and head of gameday operations until 2001.
Cole spent 14 years as a staff coach with the River City Soccer Club, three years as a staff coach with U.S. Youth Soccer Region II and two years as the women's assistant at Hutchinson Community College where he helped the team to back-to-back Kansas Jayhawk Conference championships with an undefeated conference mark of 12-0-0 and a 21-1-0 overall record in 2010. That team won the Region VI championships and made the NJCAA District Final. Hutchinson posted a record of 37-2-1 in his two years with the program, and produced 20 All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference performers, including the offensive and defensive players of the year in 2010, 17 All-Region VI performers and one NJCAA All-American.
From 2011-17, Cole was the Boys Director of Coaching/Youth Academy Director for KC Select Soccer Club and a staff coach with the Kansas Olympic Development Program.
Cole holds the following licenses: USSF National "A" Coaching License, USSF National Goalkeepers License, USSF National "B" Coaching License, NSCAA Advanced National License, NSCAA National License and a NSCAA State Diploma.
Cole was a four-year starter for coach Jerry Malone at McPherson College, and earned second-team All-KCAC his senior year.
Cole, and his wife Stacy, reside in Olathe, Kan.
What They Say About Cole
"I have known Jeff for about 10 years as a club and college coach. I have always been impressed by his work ethic and his commitment to his players. At UMKC he was instrumental in their success and I always saw him out on the road recruiting to bring in new talent. Johnson County has made a great choice and has hired a winner. Jeff will be very successful in his new role." – Mark Francis, Head Coach, University of Kansas
"Coach Jeff Cole is an extremely talented soccer coach. He is a phenomenal person who truly cares about his student-athletes and has a unique ability to get the most out of them on and off the field. Coach Cole is one of the best in the business" –
Chris Cissell, Head Women's Coach, Grand Canyon University
"Jeff Cole is a tremendous hire for Johnson County. He is an excellent teacher of the game who is passionate about leading his players on and off the field. He has won championships at a high level, with an emphasis on great team culture. I'm very excited to follow the success of JCCC with Jeff at the helm." –
Tim Walters, Head Women's Coach, University of Nebraska Omaha
"Jeff is an excellent choice to lead JCCC men's soccer. I had the pleasure to watch Jeff's work at UMKC. He is an outstanding recruiter who values academics and high personal qualities in his student-athletes. Jeff is an accomplished teacher of the game. JCCC will play with style, determination and passion. I look forward to watching them compete." –
Rick Benben, Head Men's Coach, University of Missouri-Kansas City
"Jeff's experience coaching at a high level will be great asset to JCCC soccer." –
Bryan Blitz, Head Women's Coach, University of Missouri
"I've known Jeff for over 30 years. When I first met him with the Wichita Wings, I knew he had a passion for soccer and a desire to succeed. I was fortunate enough to hire him as my assistant at Hutchinson, and he was instrumental in our hugely successful period. I followed his career at UMKC with great pride and can't wait for him to succeed at Johnson County. He is a man of integrity and character. I have no doubt that his college team will reflect these traits. I look forward to watching Jeff return JCCC back to the top of the men's game." –
Sammy Lane, Head Women's Coach, Hutchinson Community College
"Jeff Cole's strong character and passion for the game are obvious. His knowledge and experience will bring great leadership to JCCC men's soccer." –
Lincoln Roblee, Head Women's Coach, Benedictine College
"Jeff Cole is an excellent fit for JCCC. He is a winner and knows the Kansas City soccer scene very well. He is a tireless recruiter that will build upon the great tradition already established and will be successful in making JCCC a national power." –
Eddi Horn, Head Men's Coach, William Jewell College