Drago Ceranic - Women's Soccer Coach - Mercer University Athletics

Photo by: Mark Powell

Drago Ceranic

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
wsoccer@mercer.edu

The 2022 season is Drago Ceranic's first season as a part of the Mercer Bears women's soccer program. "We are excited to be adding Drago to our staff," Economopoulos said. "Drago has a passion to teach the game, a very strong soccer IQ and has a relentless work ethic. These qualities, along with his his championship pedigree, make him a great addition to our program, athletics department and institution."

Ceranic joins the staff from Iowa where he served for four years as a Volunteer Assistant Coach. Cernaic continued to help develop student-athletes' performances as well, highlighted by being a part of the 2020 Big Ten Championship team. Academically, he played a vital part in the team continuing to earn its 12^th straight United Soccer Team Academic awards and holds a school record of having 19 Academic All-Big Ten selections.

Prior to his time at Iowa, Ceranic has coached with the Cedar River Soccer Association since 2009 and he has been a part of Iowa's Olympic Development Program since 2016. With the CRSA, Ceranic helped the team to three Iowa State Cup titles (2013 U16 boys, 2014 U15 girls, and 2014 U17 boys). He also coached three state runner-up teams.

Ceranic also coached with Vermont Voltage of the Premier Developmental League (PDL) from 2008-11, he was a junior varsity head coach at Linn-Mar (Iowa) High School from 2010-11 and was the junior varsity head coach at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Xavier High School in 2009.

As a player, Ceranic played collegiately at Mount Mercy (Iowa) University, where he was a four-time All-Midwest Collegiate Conference selection. He was the Mustangs' Newcomer of the Year in 2006, was team MVP in 2007 and 2008, and was a three-year team captain. Ceranic also was a three-time all-academic selection and was named to the NAIA Champion of Character Team in 2009.

Ceranic played professional soccer for the Voltage from 2008-11, where he was team captain in 2010-11.

The Serbia native graduated from Mount Mercy in 2010 with a degree in multi-media design and communications. He holds his USSF "C" as well as an impressive UEFA "B" coaching license in game plans and scouting reports.

Coaching Accolades at Mercer

2022
- Lead Mercer to a 9-4-7 (4-1-4 SoCon) record that featured a trip to the SoCon conference semi-final appearance
- Undefeated at Home
  - Seven wins, three draws
  - 34-7 goal differential
- Instructed five All-SoCon Performer
  - First Team All-SoCon: Jada Moorman
  - Second Team All-SoCon: Nicole Icen, Ciara Whitely, Kylie Buchanan
  - All-Freshmen: Lindsay Bell, and Jada Moorman
- Trained two SoCon All-tournament Team members
  - Jamie Hlebec
  - Lindsay Bell
- Coached three Academic All-District team
  - Kylie Buchanan, Mackenzie Gassie, Jamie Helbec
- Mentored Jada Moorman to stellar freshmen season
  - First team All-SoCon
  - 2x SoCon Offensive Player of the week
  - 7 goals and 2 Assists
- Aided in the development of Goalkeeper Lindsay Bell.
  - Started in all 20 games of the Season
  - 83.2% save percentage and 94 saves
  - SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
- Six shutouts this season