New Charles City school district soccer coach hopes to lead a girls team

To The Press

Hayley Fransen was confirmed by the Charles City Board of Education Monday evening as the new coach of what is hoped will be a girls soccer team. She will also be the new 8th-grade reading teacher.

The district in the past has had a co-ed soccer team, coached by Brad McKenzie.

Franzen said she hopes enough girls go out for this year’s team that there can be separate girls and boys teams. Her goal is to have 15 players this year and 25 next year.

If there are enough players, she will coach the girls and McKenzie will coach the boys.

If there aren’t enough players for two teams, then Fransen and McKenzie will be “co-co-ed” coaches.

Fransen first became acquainted with the Charles City school system through the student teaching academy, according to a statement from the district.

“It showed how much of a collaborative culture Charles City values that I thought was awesome,” she said, adding that in addition to developing relationships with other school staff she was able to build a foundation with many of the students she will teach.

After graduating from Mason City High School, Fransen attended NIACC then earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and social sciences from the University of Northern Iowa.

In high school, Fransen participated in softball, soccer and cheerleading and was on the honor roll. In college, she played soccer and was on Phi Theta Kappa, NIACC’s honor society.

Fransen said her main goal with her new career is to share her passion for learning and sports.

“Getting more girls and boys in sports is going to help them grow as athletes and help them grow as better people,” she said.

Fransen currently lives in a home she bought while in college with her boyfriend of 6 years and their three pets, two dogs and a guinea pig.