John Carroll University Athletics

Dejan Mladenovic '06, '25G (pronounced MLA-den-oh-vich) enters his fifth season as Head Coach of John Carroll Men's Soccer for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Mladenovic enters his 20th season as a member of the John Carroll Men's Soccer coaching staff for the 2025-26 school year. 

In spring 2025, Mladenovic added the title of Assistant Athletic Director for Special Projects. In this role, Mladenovic enhances collaboration between the 40+ coaches in the department and the administration, serves as the liaison to the enrollment office in order to improve efficiency in the recruiting process, works alongside the advancement office to improve fundraising within athletics, and takes on specific strategic projects, in support of the VP for Athletics, as the environment around college athletics evolves.  

In his fourth season, the Blue Streaks celebrated the 60th anniversary of the John Carroll Men's Soccer program, including a special program welcoming back Marcello Hernandez '19. JCU finished with a 12-6-2 record on the campaign. 

In his third campaign, the Blue Streaks made the 2023 NCAA Tournament once again, making it to the Second Round. During his second season, the Blue Streaks captured the 2022 OAC Tournament Championship, the program's fifth straight. The Blue Streaks punched a ticket to the NCAA Tournament, winning a First Round game in Baltimore. In his first season as head coach, the Blue Streaks enjoyed a historic year. During the 2021 campaign, the Blue Streaks won the OAC Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history (first time since Mladenovic's sophomore season in 2003). 

Previously, Mladenovic served as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Blue Streaks, as well as Assistant Sports Information Director for the JCU Sports Information Department. He was promoted to Men's Soccer Head Coach on June 17, 2021. He is also the director of the Summer and Winter JCU Men's Soccer ID Camps, Bernot Memorial Golf Outing and Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism clinics.

Mladenovic was inducted into the John Carroll University Athletics Hall of Fame as a player in October of 2023. He was also a member of the 2003 team that was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2021.

Career Accomplishments

• 10 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2003, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
• 9 OAC Tournament Championships (2003, 2005, 2007, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
• 8 OAC Regular Season Championships (2003, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
• USC Great Lakes Coaching Staff of the Year (2019)
• OAC Freshman of the Year: Will Turrittin (2017), Izac Coleman (2020-21)
• OAC Goalkeeper of the Year: Liam McIntosh (2016 & 2018), Jacob Vogrin (2022)
• OAC Defender of the Year: Jacob Milli (2010 & 2011), Jimmy Mattina (2014), Eric Rozsits (2018), Matt Nigro (2019), Izac Coleman (2022)
• OAC Midfielder of the Year: Brian Potocnik (2014), Jesse Marinaro (2015 & 2017), Will Turrittin (2018, 2019, 2020-21)
• OAC Forward of the Year: Alex Bernot (2007), Ben Hryszko (2021)
• D3Soccer.com All-American: Brian Potocnik (2014), Matt Nigro (2019), Will Turrittin (2019)
• USC All-American:  Jesse Marinaro (2017), Matt Nigro (2019), Will Turrittin (2019 & 2021), Izac Coleman (2022), Nicholas Graeca (2024)
• College Sports Communicators Academic All-American: Nicholas Graeca (2023)

Coaching Career

• 2021-present: JCU Men's Soccer Head Coach
• 2016-2021: JCU Men's Soccer Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
• 2006-15: JCU Men's Soccer Assistant Coach

Playing Career

• 2002-05:  John Carroll University
• 2003-2005:  Cleveland Internationals PDL
• 2005 OAC Midfielder of the Year
• 2003 OAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion
• 2005 OAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion
• 2005 All-OAC 1st Team
• 2005 NSCAA All-Region 2nd Team
• 80 games played
• 51 career points, 19 goals, 13 assists
• 7 game-winning goals
• Led the OAC in 2005 in goals (8) and points (18)

Personal
Mladenovic graduated from JCU with a degree in Business Management in 2006 and is a USSF National "C" licensed coach. He acquired his Master's Degree from John Carroll in May 2025. He currently resides in Parma, Ohio with his wife Catherine (nee O'Shaughnessy), and their sons Luka and Nikola.

Pronunciation: MLA-den-oh-vich