Mark Franco, Tackling College Sports Podcast Co-Host: Mark Franco is the father of three children that are actively involved in multiple sports. While academics take priority, all three children hope to continue playing their respective sports at the college level. Franco considers himself fortunate to have coached youth soccer (including his own children) for many seasons. He also held the position of Boys Director at the same club for several years. Franco has been a financial consultant for the past 22 years and currently works for a national brokerage firm. Franco resides in CT with his wife Elizabeth, their daughter Olivia and sons Matteo and Luke.

Chris LeGates, Tackling College Sports Podcast Co-host: Chris LeGates is in his 28th season of coaching college soccer and his 5th as the Assistant Coach of Women’s Soccer at Southern Connecticut State University. Prior to SCSU, LeGates was the Head Coach at the University of Saint Joseph for 18 years. During his tenure, he compiled an overall record of 168-122-26 (.572), including a school-record 16 wins in 2012. LeGates has been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Coach of the Year five times and is the only GNAC coach to earn the honor five times. He is also the winningest women’s soccer coach in GNAC history. In February 2014, LeGates was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Recruiting, Retention, and Student-Athlete Well-Being. LeGates led the University of Saint Joseph to its most successful season ever in 2012 as the Blue Jays went 16-3-2 and won their first regular-season GNAC title. USJ reached the semifinals of the league tournament for the fifth season in a row and sixth time in seven seasons. The Blue Jays received their fifth bid to the ECAC tournament and reached the final for the first time. Under Coach LeGates, Saint Joseph saw unprecedented success in recent years, going 87-36-16 in his final seven seasons. In all, 55 Blue Jays have earned All-Conference accolades under LeGates including two GNAC Rookies of the Year, two GNAC Defensive Players of the Year and four All-New England selections. LeGates began his coaching career in 1992 at Quinnipiac University where he was the Associate Head Coach for Women’s Soccer for five seasons. Coach LeGates is currently the U-18 premier coach for the Academica Futebol Club as well as the technical director for the program. He is a managing partner and director of the Collegiate Soccer System which operates camps, clinics, and training of soccer players throughout New England. Coach LeGates has been involved in the Connecticut Olympic Development Program and has established himself as a lecturer and clinician in the region. LeGates has been a head coach and assistant coach at the professional level with the New England Mutiny of the Women’s Premier Soccer League. Prior to his coaching career, LeGates graduated from Division I University of Hartford, where his team won the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championship and went to the Final 16 in the NCAA National Tournament in 1991. He holds an Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). LeGates resides in Springfield, Mass. with his wife Jill, their son Jack and daughter Gabriella.