BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University men's soccer head coach Eric Nichols has announced the hiring of Gonzalo Carranza to his staff. Carranza joins the Falcons as an assistant coach.

"We are thrilled to welcome Gonzalo to our coaching staff," said Nichols. "With an incredible pool of candidates, Gonzalo stood out with his passion for the game and dedication to developing teams and players.

"We're excited for the impact he will have on our players and the community!"

Carranza joins the Falcons after spending two seasons as head men's soccer coach at Xavier University of Louisiana, where he started the men's soccer program. Under his leadership, the program achieved an overall record of 25-9-3 in those two seasons.

The Gold Rush finished with an overall record of 11-4-2 in the program's inaugural season of 2023, receiving votes in two of the final three NAIA coaches polls of the regular season, with numerous players earning individual accolades.

Xavier went 9-2-2 in the Red River Athletic Conference, finishing third in that 2023 campaign. Then, in 2024, the Gold Rush finished with records of 14-5-1 overall and 11-2-0 in the RRAC. Xavier advanced to the second round of the NAIA national tournament, and Carranza was named RRAC Coach of the Year.

The Gold Rush had the league's co-newcomer of the year, along with four all-conference first-team players and three all-league second-team selections in 2024. 

"I want to sincerely thank Coach Eric Nichols for the trust he has placed in me to join the BGSU men's soccer staff," said Carranza. "I am beyond excited to get to work and help our student-athletes excel both on and off the pitch.

"The ambition to win a national tournament is mutual, and what makes it most special is that we will have the community's support along the way."

While in Louisiana, Carranza also worked with the MLS Next club LA TDP, balancing his time between youth development and collegiate coaching.

Prior to his tenure at Xavier, Carranza spent two years at Eastern Oklahoma State College, where he took over a program that had finished the previous season with a 1-8-0 record. In two seasons, he transformed the team into a national contender, achieving a 19-9-6 record in his two seasons.

His first season saw the Mountaineers finish with a 7-5-3 record, and the team went 6-3-2 in conference play after posting an 0-8-0 league record the year before his arrival.

In Carranza's second season at Eastern, the team went 12-6-3 overall and 10-0-2 in league action, earning the No. 9 seed in the NJCAA national tournament after going undefeated in both conference and district play. Carranza was named both 
NJCAA Region 2 and Mid-South District Coach of the Year, and he also produced the program's first-ever All-American alongside other award-winning players.

After his first year at Eastern, Carranza was also appointed head coach of the women's program, leading that team to an 11-5-4 record, setting the school's all-time record for wins in a season. Both the men's and women's teams gained national recognition in the NJCAA rankings under his leadership.

Outside of college soccer, Carranza served as the head coach of USL League Two side FC Wichita. He took over a team that had finished the previous season without a win, and the highlight of his tenure was defeating the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. He also coached FC Wichita's UWS women's team in their inaugural season in the league.

While in Kansas, Carranza contributed to youth development through Kansas' Olympic Development Program (ODP).

Carranza holds a United States Soccer Federation National B License and certifications in Game Analysis and Scouting from the MBP School of Coaches.

He earned his bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Friends University (Kansas), where he also completed his collegiate playing career after also attending the University of Charleston (W.Va.) and previously Anoka-Ramsey Community College (Minn.).

Born in Junín, Argentina, and raised in Brazil, he is excited to move with his family to Bowling Green and become an integral part of the soccer and local community.

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For more information on the men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMSoccer), Instagram (bgsumsoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.