Coaches

Dakota Rock

A steady and experienced presence in Dakota Rock has been tasked with leading a program on the rise as he was named the next Millsaps head women’s soccer coach, the Millsaps Athletics Department announced on Aug. 1, 2022.


In his first season, the Majors improved defensively by conceding the fewest goals (24) and tallying the most shutouts (five) since 2009.


Rock sports six seasons of prior expertise as an assistant coach at three stops at the NCAA Division III level, including Rhodes College, Otterbein University and Randolph College.


Rock coached as the women’s assistant the previous three seasons at SAA rival Rhodes College where he helped lead the Lynx to the 2021 SAA Conference Tournament title, the program’s first since 1991. During the 2021 season Rock oversaw the best offensive and defensive campaign since 2016, the highest winning percentage (.765) since 2018 and instructed the SAA Offensive Player of the Year.


He was in charge of recruiting, film breakdown, scouting report presentations, travel logistics, ordered team gear and installed the playing philosophy and principles.


Prior to Rhodes, Rock was a men’s assistant at Otterbein University (Columbus, Ohio) in 2018 and a women’s assistant at Randolph College (Lynchburg, Va.) for three seasons, beginning in 2016.


While at Otterbein, he helped the Cardinals record back-to-back conference tournament appearances for the first time in program history. In addition to his aforementioned duties, he managed the PlayerTek system to track players’ performance in training and matches as well as stats.


At Randolph, Rock developed game plans which powered the program to their first conference tournament victory in over 30 seasons as well as victories over opponents for the first time in the team’s history.


Rock also competed as a student-athlete at NCAA Division II at Lake Erie College as well as Division III at both Washington and Jefferson College and Guilford College. He also coached youth soccer with the Greensboro United during his junior and senior seasons.


Rock received a master’s in Sport Management with a specialization in Sports Administration from Liberty University in 2018. He also obtained a bachelor’s in Sports Management from Guilford College in 2015. He also holds a USSF D coaching license.

Lauren Samford

Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

Gentry Johnson

Gentry Johnson was named the head men's soccer coach by the Millsaps College Athletics Department in August 2023. Johnson owns expertise at various levels throughout the state and most recently assisted the men's and women's soccer programs at Holmes Community College.


Hailing from Wilmington, N.C., Johnson was an assistant as well as goalkeeper coach with the Bulldogs from 2020-22. The women's team advanced to the NJCAA D2 Final in 2021 and 2023 after winning the MACCC Tournament in both of those seasons.


Johnson was head coach of Mississippi Blues SC in 2021 and was an assistant for Gaffa FC in 2020, both of the Gulf Coast Premier League.


Additionally, he coached the men's soccer squad at Pearl High School for three seasons. Since 2018, Johnson has been the Director with the Rankin Soccer Club.


Johnson was also the 2022 Mississippi Soccer Association (MSA) Male Competitive Coach of the Year. Additionally, he holds a USSF A License and was previously the Director of Player Development for the Brandon Futbol Club. Johnson owns a USSF National Youth License and World Football Academy Coaching certificate.


He also coached at the youth level where he helmed several impressive finishes, including a 2009 Girls USYS National Finalist and a 2007 Girls USYS Regional Finalist in 2023 as well as the 2005 Boys USYS Midsouth Champions and USYS Regional Quarterfinalist in 2022.


Prior to his time in Mississippi, Johnson coached for Wilmington Hammerheads Youth Football Club one of the top clubs in North Carolina for seven years (2011-18). His 02 Girls won the Southern Regional Premier League First Division, Jeff Cup and NCFC's CASL Showcase in the ECNL bracket. He was also a staff coach on the 01 Girls who lost in the semifinals of the Region III Championships.


Competing as a player at the collegiate level, he played for Francis Marion University. He transferred to Cape Fear Community College, where he captained the team. He moved on from CFCC and played his remaining years at Greensboro College (2009-13).


Johnson grew up playing for the 91 Breakers and New Hanover High School. He helped lead both teams to a State Cup Final. Gentry graduated from UNC Wilmington with a degree in Business Management.

Jacob Cockroft