November 23rd 2024.
Jamie Franks, the head coach of the DU Pioneers men's soccer team, has been reflecting on his team's journey from 2016 to the present. While he doesn't want to label 2020 as a transition period, he admits that recruiting for the 2021 class felt different. In 2016, the team reached the Final Four of the College Cup and Franks noticed that the incoming players were more focused on carrying on the success of the previous team rather than building their own legacy.
However, after a sharp decline in 2019 and a complete overhaul of the coaching staff, Franks was forced to reevaluate his recruiting strategies. He was determined to bring in a class of freshmen who would leave their own mark on the program and strive for a national championship. And with meticulous planning and recruiting, Franks has been able to consistently bring in top talent year after year.
Franks believes in focusing on the process rather than the outcome. He believes that if the team is dedicated to constant improvement, the results will take care of themselves. And that is exactly what the 2024 Pioneers have done. Despite falling short in the Summit League title game, they have been granted the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest in the program's history.
This year's team is made up entirely of players who have been with the program since their first day on campus. In an era where players are quick to transfer, Franks takes pride in the fact that his team is built on patience and loyalty.
One of the standout players from the 2021 class is Sam Bassett, a future MLS midfielder and the younger brother of Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett. Franks had his eye on Sam since he was just 14 years old, and after numerous conversations, Sam chose to attend DU where he believed he could reach his full potential.
And he has certainly lived up to expectations. Despite playing limited minutes as a freshman, Sam has become a key player for the Pioneers, earning numerous accolades and catching the attention of MLS teams. Franks attributes this success to Sam's dedication and the fact that he embodies all the qualities Franks looks for in a recruit.
But Sam is not the only success story from the 2021 class. Trevor Wright, Oje Ofunrein, Ian Smith, and Jake Smith are just a few of the other players who have become integral parts of the team and may even end up on an MLS roster next year.
Franks' approach to playing time is simple: it must be earned through hard work and performance in training. This has created a healthy and constructive atmosphere where the second team often pushes the starters to be better. And the results speak for themselves.
Bryce Willoughby, a forward for the Pioneers, fondly recalls his time as a redshirt freshman. He remembers how Franks would jokingly ask him about the mistakes made by his teammate, Oje Ofunrein, during training. This demonstrates the close relationship that Franks has with his players and the lighthearted nature of the team.
Willoughby, like many others on the team, was a hidden gem from an MLS academy. And that is the allure of playing for Franks and the Pioneers. They not only attract top talent, but they also develop players into their full potential. And that is something that cannot be found anywhere else.
Jamie Franks doesn't like to label 2020 as a transition period between two eras of his time as head coach for the DU Pioneers men's soccer team. However, he couldn't deny that the feeling he had while recruiting the 2021 class was different. After the team's success in reaching the Final Four of the College Cup in 2016, Franks noticed a change in the mindset of incoming players. Instead of wanting to build their own legacy, they seemed to be more focused on "taking" what was left behind by the previous players.
Unfortunately, the team's performance took a sharp decline, and they finished with a disappointing record in the fall of 2019. This led Franks to make the difficult decision to change his entire coaching staff. It was a wake-up call for him to reevaluate his approach, particularly in terms of recruiting. He dedicated himself to finding a new class of freshmen who would bring a new level of talent and dedication to the program. And four years later, it's safe to say that he hit the jackpot.
According to Franks, the 2021 class was the first to join with a clear desire to make their own mark and win the national championship for the community. This ambition was evident even before they set foot on campus. Franks believes that their actions must match their goals, and he has seen this drive and determination in every class since then. The standards have become expectations, and they continue to rise with each passing year.
Franks often emphasizes the importance of focusing on improvement rather than outcome-based goals like winning and championships. He believes that if a team is constantly striving to improve, the results will take care of themselves. And the 2021 Pioneers have embraced this philosophy. Even though they fell short of winning the Summit League title, their hard work and dedication earned them the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest in the program's history.
One of the most exciting aspects of the 2021 class was the fact that all 35 players were recruited by Franks from day one. They were handpicked to fit and thrive in his system. In a time where transfer portals and instant gratification are prevalent, Franks' team proves that patience is key.
Part of this exceptional recruiting class was star player and future MLS midfielder Sam Bassett. Franks had been aware of Sam's talent since he was just 14 years old, thanks to his brother, Cole Bassett, who plays for the Colorado Rapids. Despite receiving offers from other universities, Sam ultimately chose to join the Pioneers after numerous conversations with Franks. And it's safe to say that it was the right decision.
Sam's growth and development at DU have been nothing short of impressive. Despite being a standout player from a young age, he only played a total of 233 minutes in his freshman year, which is more than some get in their entire first year at the university. But by his sophomore year, he had become a key starter and went on to have an outstanding career, earning numerous accolades and recognition. According to Franks, Sam embodies everything he looks for in a recruit, from his personality to his tactical skills.
But Sam isn't the only success story from the 2021 class. Franks also recruited players like Trevor Wright, Oje Ofunrein, Ian Smith, and Jake Smith, all of whom have become key starters and may even end up playing in the MLS next year. Franks' approach to playing time, where it is earned through performance in training rather than given, has created a healthy and constructive environment where the second team often pushes the starters to their limits, making the entire team better.
When forward Bryce Willoughby thinks back on his time as a redshirt freshman, one memory stands out. Franks would often sprint down the touchline during training, looking for someone to chew out when a mistake was made. But instead of confronting the player directly, he would turn to Willoughby and ask, "What is your boy doing?" It's these little moments that have made Willoughby appreciate his time at DU even more. Like many players recruited by Franks, Willoughby was a hidden gem at an MLS academy back in 2021. And now, he's thriving under Franks' guidance.
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