Mississippi College Men's Soccer

Johns has become the winningest coach in MC mens soccer history and built the program into one of the best in the American Southwest Conference, winning two straight regular season championships in their final two years in the league. Over his career at MC, he has posted a 121-66-23 record. In 2013, the Choctaws won the American Southwest Conference regular season championship for the second straight year, dropping just one league match all season long. MC finished their last two years in the ASC with a 20-3-2 record in the conference. Despite being ineligible to defend their ASC Tournament championship, Johns led the Choctaws to the National Christian College Athletic Association Tournament, earning two draws. Six Choctaws were named to the All-ASC Teams, led by goalkeeper Adam Pittman, who was named ASC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Adrian Moreno, Brian Vasquez and Pittman were named to the First Team, while Francisco De Anda and Harrison Russell were Second Team selections. Oscar Delgado rounded out the list with an Honorable Mention nod. The Choctaws had, arguably, their most successful season in school history in 2012, winning their first-ever ASC championship, along with the league tournament title. Johns was named the ASC Coach of the Year as MC needed two penatly kick victories to win the tournament at Longabaugh Field. The Choctaws advanced to the NCAA Regional, defeating Whitworth (1-0) in the first round, before bowing out to Trinity (TX) in PK's. Seven Choctaws earned All-ASC honors, led by Julio Cesar Espinal, Robert Jackson, Daniel Lang and Brian Vasquez being named to the First Team. Vasquez was also named an NSCAA All-American and All-West Region performer. Harrison Russell was an All-West Region honoree, as well as, a Second Team All-ASC performer. BJ Williams (Third Team) and Hugo Flores (Hon. Mention) also earned All-ASC honors. The 2011 season saw the Choctaws qualify for their sixth consecutive ASC Tournament, going 14-3-3, including a win streak of seven games over the final month.  MC also did not lose a match over the final 10, tying the final three of the season.  Brian Vasquez was named the ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year, while seven other Choctaws earned All-Conference honors.  Ben Cross and Rafael Guzman joined Vasquez on the First Team.  Vasquez and Cross were also named to the All-Region Team by NSCAA. In 2010, the Choctaws advanced to their second ASC Tournament Championship game in five years as MC faced Texas-Tyler for the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.  The Choctaws allowed the fewest goals in school history with on 12 GA on the season and finished the year with a school record 12 shutouts.  Seven Choctaws earned All-ASC honors with Michael Cooper and Barry Prather being named to the First Team. In 2009, the Choctaws made their fourth consecutive trip to the ASC Tournament, finishing 12-4-4.  Forward Michael Cooper set MC single-season records for goals with 20 and led the conference, while earning ASC Offensive Player of the Year honors.  Six Choctaws finished with All-ASC honors on the season with Cooper and Tyler Wade earning First Team selections. In 2008 under Johns leadership, senior forward Phillip Buffington tied the ASC record for goals scored with 56 goals in just 54 games. Senior defender Keith Armstrong also earned ASC Defensive Player of the Year honors on his way to his fourth straight All-ASC season. Both players are receiving interest from different professional organizations across the country and are expected to sign contracts this offseason. In 2006, the Choctaws went 14-5-3 and reached the ASC Championship Game for the first time in the programs history. The Choctaws lost in the final 2-1 to Hardin-Simmons University. The Choctaws have reached the ASC Championship Tournament in each of the last four seasons.  During his tenure as a JFC coach, Johns managed to win more club soccer state championships than any other coach in Mississippi history. During his thirteen years as a club coach, Johns produced 21 state championships in men and womens soccer in ages ranging from 11-18. Johns under-19 boys team in 2006 was the first team in MYSA (Mississippi Youth Soccer Association) history to win nine consecutive state championships. Johns also served as Director of Coaching for Jackson Futbol Club in 2002-2003. During the 1997-98 seasons, Johns gained experience in the professional ranks as the assistant head coach and assistant general manager of the Jackson Chargers. Johns also served as the head coach on road trips for the now defunct minor league team. Johns also was the Head Coach for the womens program at St. Andrews High School from 1995-1997. He led St. Andrews to a semifinal appearance in the MHSAA state tournament. Johns spent his collegiate playing career with the Belhaven Blazers, a NAIA scholarship school. With the Blazers, he spent four years under the leadership of Pete Fuller, now the head coach at the University of Mobile. During his career at Belhaven, the Blazers won the 1992 NAIA National Championship.  Johns currently holds a USSF B license and his National Youth license. Head Coach Kevin Johns enters his 12th season as the head of the Mississippi College mens soccer program. In 11 years, Johns has become the winningest coach in MC mens soccer history and built the program into one of the best in the American Southwest Conference, winning two straight regular season championships in their final two years in the league. Over his career at MC, he has posted a 121-66-23 record. In 2013, the Choctaws won the American Southwest Conference regular season championship for the second straight year, dropping just one league match all season long. MC finished their last two years in the ASC with a 20-3-2 record in the conference. Despite being ineligible to defend their ASC Tournament championship, Johns led the Choctaws to the National Christian College Athletic Association Tournament, earning two draws. Six Choctaws were named to the All-ASC Teams, led by goalkeeper Adam Pittman, who was named ASC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Adrian Moreno, Brian Vasquez and Pittman were named to the First Team, while Francisco De Anda and Harrison Russell were Second Team selections. Oscar Delgado rounded out the list with an Honorable Mention nod. The Choctaws had, arguably, their most successful season in school history in 2012, winning their first-ever ASC championship, along with the league tournament title. Johns was named the ASC Coach of the Year as MC needed two penatly kick victories to win the tournament at Longabaugh Field. The Choctaws advanced to the NCAA Regional, defeating Whitworth (1-0) in the first round, before bowing out to Trinity (TX) in PK's. Seven Choctaws earned All-ASC honors, led by Julio Cesar Espinal, Robert Jackson, Daniel Lang and Brian Vasquez being named to the First Team. Vasquez was also named an NSCAA All-American and All-West Region performer. Harrison Russell was an All-West Region honoree, as well as, a Second Team All-ASC performer. BJ Williams (Third Team) and Hugo Flores (Hon. Mention) also earned All-ASC honors. The 2011 season saw the Choctaws qualify for their sixth consecutive ASC Tournament, going 14-3-3, including a win streak of seven games over the final month.  MC also did not lose a match over the final 10, tying the final three of the season.  Brian Vasquez was named the ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year, while seven other Choctaws earned All-Conference honors.  Ben Cross and Rafael Guzman joined Vasquez on the First Team.  Vasquez and Cross were also named to the All-Region Team by NSCAA. In 2010, the Choctaws advanced to their second ASC Tournament Championship game in five years as MC faced Texas-Tyler for the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.  The Choctaws allowed the fewest goals in school history with on 12 GA on the season and finished the year with a school record 12 shutouts.  Seven Choctaws earned All-ASC honors with Michael Cooper and Barry Prather being named to the First Team. In 2009, the Choctaws made their fourth consecutive trip to the ASC Tournament, finishing 12-4-4.  Forward Michael Cooper set MC single-season records for goals with 20 and led the conference, while earning ASC Offensive Player of the Year honors.  Six Choctaws finished with All-ASC honors on the season with Cooper and Tyler Wade earning First Team selections. In 2008 under Johns leadership, senior forward Phillip Buffington tied the ASC record for goals scored with 56 goals in just 54 games. Senior defender Keith Armstrong also earned ASC Defensive Player of the Year honors on his way to his fourth straight All-ASC season. Both players are receiving interest from different professional organizations across the country and are expected to sign contracts this offseason. In 2006, the Choctaws went 14-5-3 and reached the ASC Championship Game for the first time in the programs history. The Choctaws lost in the final 2-1 to Hardin-Simmons University. The Choctaws have reached the ASC Championship Tournament in each of the last four seasons.  During his tenure as a JFC coach, Johns managed to win more club soccer state championships than any other coach in Mississippi history. During his thirteen years as a club coach, Johns produced 21 state championships in men and womens soccer in ages ranging from 11-18. Johns under-19 boys team in 2006 was the first team in MYSA (Mississippi Youth Soccer Association) history to win nine consecutive state championships. Johns also served as Director of Coaching for Jackson Futbol Club in 2002-2003. During the 1997-98 seasons, Johns gained experience in the professional ranks as the assistant head coach and assistant general manager of the Jackson Chargers. Johns also served as the head coach on road trips for the now defunct minor league team. Johns also was the Head Coach for the womens program at St. Andrews High School from 1995-1997. He led St. Andrews to a semifinal appearance in the MHSAA state tournament. Johns spent his collegiate playing career with the Belhaven Blazers, a NAIA scholarship school. With the Blazers, he spent four years under the leadership of Pete Fuller, now the head coach at the University of Mobile. During his career at Belhaven, the Blazers won the 1992 NAIA National Championship.  Johns currently holds a USSF B license and his National Youth license.

Rafael Costa enters his first season as head coach of the Mississippi College men's soccer program in 2025, bringing a deep connection to the university and a diverse background in coaching at multiple levels of the game. A proud Mississippi College alumnus, Costa graduated in 2019 with a master’s degree in Professional Communication in Sports and now returns to Clinton to lead the very program he once captained as a student-athlete. Costa takes the reins following the retirement of longtime head coach Kevin Johns, who led the Choctaws for 22 seasons. A former standout midfielder for MC, Costa was a two-year letterwinner from 2017–2018. His accolades include First Team All-Gulf South Conference and D2CCA All-South Region Second Team honors in 2018, as well as selection to the Mississippi College Men's Soccer All-Decade Team. He was also the recipient of the program's Outstanding Senior Letterman Award in 2019. Prior to his appointment, Costa built an extensive coaching résumé across high school, club, and collegiate soccer. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs at Holmes Community College, while also coaching youth teams in the Elite Club National League (ECNL) with MS Rush United. His previous roles include head girls coach at Starkville High School, director of coaching for Tupelo Futbol Club’s Starkville site, and volunteer assistant coach at Mississippi College in 2019 and again in 2021. Known for his passion for mentorship and player development, Costa brings a strong understanding of the program’s culture, mission, and values. "It's great to be back home," Costa says. "Mississippi College has had a lasting impact on my life, and I’m honored to now lead this team. I look forward to building on the foundation that Coach Johns established and continuing the program’s tradition of excellence on and off the field." Costa resides in Madison, Mississippi, with his wife, Rebecca, and their daughter, Adalyn.

Owen Connelly enters his fifth season on the Mississippi College men’s soccer coaching staff and third as a full-time assistant coach. After serving as a graduate assistant in 2021 and 2022, Connelly was elevated to a full-time role in 2023 and has been an integral part of the Choctaws’ consistent success in the Gulf South Conference. During Connelly’s tenure on the staff, Mississippi College has posted four consecutive winning seasons, highlighted by a historic 2023 campaign that saw the Choctaws finish 12-2-3 overall and go undefeated in GSC play (8-0-3) en route to the GSC regular season championship. MC reached the GSC semifinals and narrowly missed an NCAA Tournament berth after an overtime loss to Lee. In 2024, the Choctaws remained a tough out in the GSC with an 8-5-3 record (6-4-1 in conference), including signature wins over Texas A&M International and St. Edward’s. In 2022, the team went 11-4-2 with a strong 6-3-2 conference mark, following a 10-6-1 finish in 2021 (7-3-1 GSC). Throughout those seasons, Connelly helped develop multiple All-GSC and All-Region players, contributing to the program’s consistent presence among the league’s top contenders. Before joining the coaching staff, Connelly was a two-year starter for the Choctaws in 2018 and 2019. He appeared in 30 matches, scoring six goals and tallying five assists. Following his senior season, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Team and earned Second Team All-GSC honors. He was also recognized as an Honorable Mention selection on Mississippi College’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. A native of Paisley, Scotland, Connelly began his collegiate playing career at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma before transferring to MC.

Luke Fanstone enters his first season as a Graduate Assistant with the Mississippi College men’s soccer program in 2025, transitioning into coaching after a standout playing career with the Choctaws. A dependable presence on the back line, Fanstone wrapped up his collegiate career in 2024 with a selection to the D2CCA All-South Region Second Team and First Team All-GSC honors. He anchored a Choctaw defense that limited opponents to just over one goal per match, while also contributing offensively with three goals and two assists, including two game-winners. He appeared in 15 matches (14 starts), logging the third-most minutes on the team (1,257), and recorded a brace in a win over Ouachita Baptist. Over his three-year playing career at MC (2021–2024), Fanstone made 41 appearances and 33 starts, compiling over 2,800 minutes played. He earned GSC Academic Honor Roll recognition each season, highlighting his performance both on the field and in the classroom. Before coming to Mississippi College, Fanstone played under Head Coach Nas Bashir at FAB Academy, where he scored 9 goals and tallied 5 assists. He previously developed in the Oxford United Youth Academy system in his hometown of Oxford, England. He holds a triple extended BTEC in Sport Science and is now pursuing a graduate degree in Sports Management at MC.