John Carroll University Men's Soccer

Dejan Mladenovic '06, '25G (pronounced MLA-den-oh-vich) enters his fifth season as Head Coach of John Carroll Men's Soccer for the 2025-2026 academic year. Mladenovic also serves as Senior Deputy Athletic Director.  Mladenovic enters his 20th season as a member of the John Carroll Men's Soccer coaching staff for the 2025-26 school year.  In spring 2025, Mladenovic added the title of Assistant Athletic Director for Special Projects. In this role, Mladenovic enhances collaboration between the 40+ coaches in the department and the administration, serves as the liaison to the enrollment office in order to improve efficiency in the recruiting process, works alongside the advancement office to improve fundraising within athletics, and takes on specific strategic projects, in support of the VP for Athletics, as the environment around college athletics evolves.   In his fourth season, the Blue Streaks celebrated the 60th anniversary of the John Carroll Men's Soccer program, including a special program welcoming back Marcello Hernandez '19. JCU finished with a 12-6-2 record on the campaign.  In his third campaign, the Blue Streaks made the 2023 NCAA Tournament once again, making it to the Second Round. During his second season, the Blue Streaks captured the 2022 OAC Tournament Championship, the program's fifth straight. The Blue Streaks punched a ticket to the NCAA Tournament, winning a First Round game in Baltimore. In his first season as head coach, the Blue Streaks enjoyed a historic year. During the 2021 campaign, the Blue Streaks won the OAC Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history (first time since Mladenovic's sophomore season in 2003).  Previously, Mladenovic served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Blue Streaks, as well as Assistant Sports Information Director for the JCU Sports Information Department. He was promoted to Men's Soccer Head Coach on June 17, 2021. He is also the director of the Summer and Winter JCU Men's Soccer ID Camps, Bernot Memorial Golf Outing and Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism clinics. Mladenovic was inducted into the John Carroll University Athletics Hall of Fame as a player in October of 2023. He was also a member of the 2003 team that was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2021. Career Accomplishments 10 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2003, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) 9 OAC Tournament Championships (2003, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) 8 OAC Regular Season Championships (2003, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) USC Great Lakes Coaching Staff of the Year (2019) OAC Freshman of the Year: Will Turrittin (2017), Izac Coleman (2020-21) OAC Goalkeeper of the Year: Liam McIntosh (2016 & 2018), Jacob Vogrin (2022) OAC Defender of the Year: Jacob Milli (2010 & 2011), Jimmy Mattina (2014), Eric Rozsits (2018), Matt Nigro (2019), Izac Coleman (2022) OAC Midfielder of the Year: Brian Potocnik (2014), Jesse Marinaro (2015 & 2017), Will Turrittin (2018, 2019, 2020-21) OAC Forward of the Year: Alex Bernot (2007), Ben Hryszko (2021) D3Soccer.com All-American: Brian Potocnik (2014), Matt Nigro (2019), Will Turrittin (2019) USC All-American:  Jesse Marinaro (2017), Matt Nigro (2019), Will Turrittin (2019 & 2021), Izac Coleman (2022), Nicholas Graeca (2024) College Sports Communicators Academic All-American: Nicholas Graeca (2023) Coaching Career 2021-present: JCU Men's Soccer Head Coach 2016-2021: JCU Men's Soccer Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator 2006-15: JCU Men's Soccer Assistant Coach Playing Career 2002-05:  John Carroll University 2003-2005:  Cleveland Internationals PDL 2005 OAC Midfielder of the Year 2003 OAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion 2005 OAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion 2005 All-OAC 1st Team 2005 NSCAA All-Region 2nd Team 80 games played 51 career points, 19 goals, 13 assists 7 game-winning goals Led the OAC in 2005 in goals (8) and points (18) Personal Mladenovic graduated from JCU with a degree in Business Management in 2006 and is a USSF National "C" licensed coach. He acquired his Master's Degree from John Carroll in May 2025. He currently resides in Parma, Ohio with his wife Catherine (nee O'Shaughnessy), and their sons Luka and Nikola. Pronunciation: MLA-den-oh-vich   Year Overall OAC OAC Tourney NCAA's 2021 14-4-4 7-0-2 2-0 2-1 2022 16-5-1 8-1-0 2-0 1-1 2023 14-6-2 6-3-0 1-0-1 1-1 2024 12-6-2 6-3-0 0-1 N/A Total 56-21-9 27-7-2 5-1-1 4-3

Dejan Mladenovic enters his 15th season as a member of the John Carroll men's soccer coaching staff in the 2020-21 school year.   He is currently the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Blue Streaks as well as a visible member of the Sports Information Department.   Mladenovic is also the director of the Summer and Winter JCU Men's Soccer ID Camps, Bernot Memorial Golf Outing and Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism clinics. Career Accomplishments 7 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2003, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)6 OAC Tournament Championships (2003, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2018, 2019)6 OAC Regular Season Championships (2003, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)USC Great Lakes Coaching Staff of the Year (2019) Coaching Career 2016-present:  John Carroll University Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator2006-15:  John Carroll University Assistant Coach Playing Career 2002-05:  John Carroll University2003-2005:  Cleveland Internationals PDL2005 OAC Midfielder of the Year2003 OAC Tournament Champion2005 OAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion2005 All-OAC 1st Team2005 NSCAA All-Region 2nd Team80 games played51 career points, 19 goals, 13 assists7 game-winning goalsLed the OAC in 2005 in goals (8) and points (18) Personal Mladenovic graduated from JCU with a degree in Business Management in 2006 and is a USSF National "C" licensed coach.  He currently resides in Parma, Ohio with his wife Catherine (O'Shaughnessy). 

Dominic Grobler '25 enters his first season as the graduate assistant for JCU Women's Soccer in the 2025-26 academic year. Grobler competed during the 2024 season for John Carroll as a goalkeeper. The Johannesburg, South Africa native earned OAC Athlete of the Week on September 9, 2024. He started six games in total, accumulating a 0.62 goals against average. Grobler will work with goalkeepers from both the men's and women's soccer teams. 

Ante Pilekic enters his fifth season as an assistant men's soccer coach in the 2025-26 academic year.  In his fourth year, Pilekic helped the Blue Streaks back to the OAC Tournament. In his third year, Pilekic helped to usher the Blue Streaks back to the NCAA Tournament in 2023. During his second season, the Blue Streaks captured the OAC Tournament Championship, the fifth straight in program history. Despite a difficult schedule, the Blue Streaks tallied a 16-5-1 overall record, 8-1 in OAC play. Pilekic helped to steer the Blue Streaks to the NCAA Tournament and a First Round win.  During his first season with the Blue Streaks, Pilekic assisted John Carroll to a 14-4-4 season, and a sweet 16 apperance in the NCAA DIII Men's Soccer Tournament. John Carroll finished the regular season as OAC Regular Season Champions, and captured their fourth straight OAC Championship in the postseason.   

Michael Adelman '22 enters his fourth season as an assistant coach in the 2025-26 academic year. For the 2022 season, Adelman served as a volunteer assistant before being elevated to assistant coach prior to the 2023 campaign.  Adelman guided the Blue Streaks to OAC Tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024. During his first season on the coaching staff, the Blue Streaks reigned atop the Ohio Athletic Conference with a fifth straight OAC Tournament Championship. The Blue Streaks made an appearance in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, winning a First Round game. In his second year, the Blue & Gold returned to the NCAA Tournament and won a First Round game again.  Adelman played five seasons for the Blue Streaks, helping John Carroll win four OAC Tournament Championships, four OAC Regular Season Championships, and make four trips to the NCAA Tournament. Adelman served as captain during both the spring and fall seasons in 2021. In 2021, the Blue Gold Club honored Adelman with the inaugural Wenzler Award at the JCU Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Adelman was a three-time Academic All-OAC student-athlete. Adelman was an indispensable leader for the Blue Streaks during his five seasons as a player.  Adelman graduated from GlenOak High School in Canton, serving as a two-time captain for the Golden Eagles. He made 2016 Second Team All-State and First Team All-District. He played club soccer for Team Challenger FC, where he was a six time OYSAN State Cup Champion and 2017 US Youth Soccer National Champion.

Nicholas Ruggiero '23 enters his first season as an assistant men's soccer coach in the 2025-26 academic year.  Ruggiero played five seasons for the Blue Streaks. The Middleburg Heights native started 22 games as a freshman in 2019, eight of 10 matches in spring 2021, and started double digits games in 2022 and 2023. For his career, the defender appeared in 94 matches, starting 68. The Supply Chain Management and Marketing major earned First All-OAC honors in 2022.

Jake Cooper '98 enters his sixth season with the Blue Streaks in the 2024-25 academic year.  The Blue Streaks enjoyed a magical campaign during his fifth season with the program. John Carroll Women's Soccer went undefeated for the first time in Ohio Athletic Conference play to win the regular season crown before roaring for an OAC Tournament Championship. The Blue Streaks then went on a fantastic run through the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite 8 following wins over Cortland, #8 Case Western Reserve, and #14 MIT. Eventually, the run ended at Messiah, but not before setting new program bests for an undefeated streak (21 matches) and for longest postseason run. Head Coach Michael Marich and Cooper won United Soccer Coaches Region VII Staff of the Year, while Marich accepted OAC Coach of the Year honors as well. In Cooper's fourth season in 2022, the Blue Streaks tallied a 10-9-1 record, reaching the OAC Tournament Semifinal. John Carroll tallied three All-OAC selections. In the spring of 2021, the Blue Streaks finished 4-5-1 conference mark, reaching the OAC Tournament during the pandemic season. In the fall, the Blue Streaks finished with a 7-11-1 record. In his first year in 2019, JCU finished 10-7-3 (6-4-1 OAC), qualified for the OAC Tournament, and won the first round match vs Baldwin Wallace to advanced to the Semifinals. Cooper spent 4 years as an assistant men’s coach at Notre Dame College.  During his 4 years the Falcons went 46-21-4 and he led the 2nd team to an 11-1-2 record. The 2013 Falcons were Mountain East Conference Champions, were ranked as high as #4 in the Country and qualified for the NCAA tournament.  The Team also qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2015. Cooper has coached for 3 different High Schools on the boy’s side in the Cleveland Area. He led Shaker Heights to a 10-4-4 record, the last week of the season tied Medina (State Champion Division 1) and Revere (State Runner-Up Division 2). In 3 years at Nordonia, Cooper had a 25-24-4 record and is the only coach in school history to have a career winning record. The 2011 team holds the school record for wins and winning % with a 12-5-1 record. While at Orange High School for 10 years, Cooper had a 91-61-28 record and still holds the record for career victories. They won 2 league championships which were the first 2 in school history. In 2006, he led the school to the State Regional Semifinals, which is the farthest the team has reached in school history.  In 2006 was News Herald Public School Coach of the Year. In 2005, Cooper was Cleveland Division 2 Boy’s Public School Coach of the Year and CVC Coach of the Year. In 2001 was CVC CO-Coach of the Year. During his high school coaching tenure, four of his players earned All-Ohio nominations. Cooper holds a USSF “A” License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, and NSCAA Regional Goalkeepers License. Cooper earned a B.A. in Physical Education from John Carroll University in 1998, works as the Head Personal Trainer at a local Tennis Facility and resides in Solon with his wife and children.