Stefan Draganov Steps Down After 20-Year Career at Howard CC

Courtesy Howard Community College Athletics

COLUMBIA, Md. - Stefan Draganov has stepped down as the Howard Community College men's soccer coach, ending his legendary 20-year career with the Dragons, it was announced Friday, January 5, 2024.

A former professional soccer player in Bulgaria, Draganov took over the program in 2004 as he attempted to revive a failing program. After a first year in which the team won only four games, he was able to rebound in his second season with a 12-win season. In his 20 years, he had 17 seasons of winning records compiling a career record of 214-137-18.

Draganov led his team to four national tournament appearances and five regional championships. He won the regional coach of the year award and the district coach of the year awards twice while also earning an MD-Juco coach of the year award as well. His team in 2010 will go down as arguably his best, where the team was nationally ranked the entire season and closed the season as the 6th best team in NJCAA division III. This marked the first national tournament appearance for the program's history as they won MD-Juco and Region 20 championships while Draganov took home three coach of the year awards in one season.

In his 20 years at Howard CC, Draganov has coached countless student-athletes to individual achievements including a great number of which going on to play at the four-year level. His passion and care for the players he coached was always evident as they were able to achieve personal and team goals along the way. His ability to recruit players was unparalleled, along with his ability to train his players to always be improving.

The process to fill the vacant coaching position is now underway for the athletics department with the new state-of-the-art athletics center due to open within the next year to include indoor practice space, team locker rooms, and a student-athlete strength & conditioning center.