BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Soccer program has announced that Joseph Franchino will become the next Assistant Coach of the team, making a lateral move after assisting the Women's Soccer team in 2009.

With the loss of Assistant Coach Ben Figuiereido due to family and work commitments, the program moved quickly to fill the coaching slot.

“I am very excited about Franchino joining our program,” said Head Coach Jim Cook. “I am sure his background and experience of playing at the highest levels will assist our program in our goal of striving for excellence. In fact, he is already working on recruiting for us.”

After having spent the 2009 season with the Women's Soccer program, Franchino is familiar with RWU Soccer. In Franchino's first season with the Women's Soccer coaching staff, he helped guide the women to an 11-5-3 record, the team's fifth consecutive year with ten or more wins.

Franchino looks to impart his knowledge of the game as a professional player to the Hawks, with ten seasons of experience playing in Major League Soccer. Drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1998, he spent two years in L.A. before being traded to the New England Revolution, where he appeared in 162 games over eight seasons.

As a collegian, Franchino earned NSCAA Third Team All-America honors at Cal State Fullerton prior to transferring University of Washington to complete his collegiate career.

He will assist Coach Cook in the 2010 season with a projected roster that boasts seven returning seniors and four returning All-Commonwealth Coast Conference players from the 2009 campaign.