DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer program has promoted Brad Franks to associate head coach, Jose Arenas to assistant coach, and has hired Angelo Capuano as its Director of Soccer Operations, head coach Jamie Franks announced on Thursday.

"Our job is to utilize the game of soccer to develop important character traits in each student-athlete," Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks said. "The everyday standards and expectations are driven from the players but exemplified by the staff. We have the best job in the world and we are incredibly fortunate to work at the University of Denver where people come first. We take pride in working with young men and support staff who want to learn and push themselves." 

Brad Franks joined his brother's staff as an assistant ahead of the delayed 2020 season in the spring of 2021. In his first campaign with the program, Denver finished the spring at 6-2 and earned an NCAA Tournament bid after winning the Summit League regular season title. Franks' first full season in the fall of 2021 saw the Pioneers finish 10-4-5 with a Summit League double. Denver made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the fall, after the Pioneers first NCAA postseason win since 2016. Prior to Denver, Franks served as the associate head coach at Appalachian State where he helped the Mountaineers to their first winning season in six years in 2018 and the program's first win over a nationally ranked opponent since 2009. Franks also served on coaching staffs at Elon, High Point and Wake Forest.

"It has been great to coach alongside my brother the last two seasons," Jamie Franks said. "Brad has tremendous knowledge and understanding of what a winning culture looks like every day. Brad has been in/around college soccer for 15 years and understands what it takes to be successful as a student-athlete, as an assistant coach, and as a head coach. His player management is all about his everyday effort to connect and meet the student-athletes where they are." 

Arenas' promotion to assistant coach comes after two seasons as the Director of Soccer Operations for the Pioneers. Prior to his arrival at Denver, Arenas served on the Laramie County Community staff as an assistant for nine seasons which was preceded by a year at his alma mater, McPherson College (Kansas). During his time at Laramie, Arenas helped lead the Golden Eagles to six regular season Region IX championships, three Region IX tournament titles, a North Central District Championship and a NJCAA semifinal appearance. In 2016, Arenas was named to the United Soccer Coaches "30 under 30".

"Jose is someone who I have known and respected for almost 10 years," Franks said. "He built and sustained LCCC as a power-house program and we were fortunate to have him join our program two years ago.  Over the past two years, Jose had tremendous success in his role as the Director of Operations and took extreme ownership in the position. Now as he moves into a new role, his tactical knowledge and ability to relate to the student-athletes will make him a great resource for our program."

Capuano, who will split his duties between the men's and women's programs, joins the Denver staff after five years with Next College Student-Athlete (NCSA) in Chicago. Capuano was the head men's soccer recruiting coach, educating and guiding men's soccer players and their families through the college recruiting process, successfully placing roughly 700 student-athletes into colleges and universities across the country. He attended Wright State University, playing his final season with the Raiders in 2013.

"I am confident Angelo will be a tremendous asset to our men and women's program in this position," His work ethic, attention to detail and understanding of the student athlete experience will help in the everyday operations of our programs. His proactiveness and organizational skills are among some of the best I have been around. We are lucky to have him part of the staff.

The promotions come after the departure of former associate head coach Masaki Hemmi at the end of the 2021 season.

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