About

Mission Statement:

My goal is to build a strong foundation of positive life skills for both children and elite athletes through a holistic approach. By emphasizing psychological growth, physical development, and the mastery of technical and tactical soccer skills, I aim to create a safe, enjoyable environment where young athletes can thrive and grow.

Bio

My life experiences and academic journey have shaped me into the coach and mentor I am today. I’ve worn many hats along the way, all of which have inspired my passion for teaching, developing, and guiding the next generation to become positive role models.

Born in Colombia, I developed a love for soccer early on. At the age of 12, I moved to San Francisco, CA, where I continued to pursue my passion for the game. I played club soccer throughout my youth and eventually competed at the college level. After high school, I enlisted in the US Army, where I served in Afghanistan and rose to the rank of Infantry Sergeant. My military service taught me invaluable lessons in leadership, discipline, and resilience, which I apply to coaching today.

For over fifteen years, I’ve coached soccer across various levels, from children as young as three to college athletes, both boys and girls. My experience includes being a head coach at the college, club, middle school, and high school varsity levels.

I currently coach the North Allegheny Boys High School Varsity team, where I was named WPIAL Coach of the Year in 2023, and we reached the state quarterfinals. I also coach the 09 ECNL and 08 RL girls teams at Riverhounds.

Before relocating to Pittsburgh, PA, I lived in Santa Clara, CA where I served as an Assistant Coach for the men’s and women’s programs at De Anza College for six years. In club soccer, I coached at De Anza Force, Breakers Academy working with their U16 and U17/18 Development Academy teams, Almaden FC, and SF United. While I’ve had the privilege of coaching many successful teams, my proudest accomplishments aren’t defined by victories, but by the life lessons my players gained through soccer and the number of athletes who advanced to play at the collegiate level.


Academically, I hold two Master’s degrees—one in Kinesiology and another in Sport Psychology—as well as dual Bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Additionally, I’ve earned a “Premier” license from United Soccer Coaches and a “C” license from the US Soccer Federation.

I’m fortunate to share my life with my amazing wife, Melissa, and our seven-year-old son, Santiago.

All of my experiences—both in life and in coaching—have shaped my philosophy. To me, success as a coach isn’t defined solely by wins or producing college athletes; it’s about the life lessons taught, the development nurtured, and making sure players have fun along the way.

Resume

Top-performing coach with a deep understanding of mental conditioning tactics, strategic thinking, and experience in spearheading high-performance teams while maintaining excellent academic scores. Proficient in assessing students’ needs, initiatives to boost performance, and cross-department coordination abilities.

Education and Certifications

  • Fresno Pacific University, CA, M.A. in Kinesiology                                                   (2021)
  • John F. Kennedy University, CA, M.A. in Sport Psychology                                  (2021, Expected)
  • San Francisco State University, CA, B.A. in Psychology and B.A. in Criminal Justice     (2014)
  • De Anza College, CA, A.A. in Liberal Arts- Social and Behavioral Science    (2012)
  • United Soccer Coaches “Premier Diploma”, NC                                                     (2018)
  • U.S. Soccer National “C” Long Island, NY                                                               (2023)

Core Skills and Competencies

  • Data-Driven Analysis
  • Strong Interpersonal Skills
  • Results-Oriented
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Behavior Management
  • Budget Management
  • Time Management
  • Relationship Development
  • Mental Conditioning
  • Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Staff Development
  • Strategic Planning
  • Recruiting
  • Bilingual & bicultural (English/Spanish)

Professional Accomplishments

  • Developed time management skills in order to prioritize tasks and deliver results with minimal oversight. This required assessing athletes’ performance and developing comprehensive training plans.
  • Leveraged empathic communications to build rapport with cross-cultural audiences including students from different backgrounds to coach and mentor them and provide guidance concerning which College/University met their student-athlete goals.
  • Boosted teams’ productivity by formally acknowledging outstanding performance, monitoring individual and team effectiveness, and recommending improvement to facilitate collaboration. This also involved creating a competitive and nurturing environment to foster technical and tactical development.
  • Was entrusted by my athletes as a role model to orient them regarding transferring lessons learned on the field and applying them to life.
  • Consistently increased performance by scouting, recruiting, and retaining top-quality talent while lowering turnover rates by successfully completing the recruiting cycle as needed.
  • Lowered organizational risks by ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
  • Capitalize on development and planning leadership skills by creating a challenging environment, keeping players accountable, and promoting a team culture.
  • Guaranteed the continuity of operations by spearheading fundraising initiatives and planning and monitoring the annual budget.
  • Boosted stakeholders’ support and found a consensus by identifying underlying differences and resolving conflicts openly and empathetically.

Professional Experience

  • Montero Soccer, PA, Owner (2020-Present)
  • Riverhounds FC, PA, Head Coach, Girls 09 ECNL, & 08 RL (2022-Present)
  • North Allegheny High School, PA, Varsity Boys Head Coach (2022-Present)
  • De Anza Force, CA, Head Coach, Boys 2010, 2004, 2005                                                (2020 – 2022)
  • De Anza College, CA, Assistant Coach, Men’s Soccer                                         (2016 – 2022)
  • Breakers Academy, CA, Assistant Coach, Boys 2006, 2003, 2002/01         (2019 – 2019)
  • Almaden F. C., CA, Head Coach, Boys 2000/2001, 2002, 2003                      (2016 – 2019)      
  • Westmont High School, Campbell, Head Coach, Men’s Varsity Soccer    (2017 – 2019)
  • Cristo Rey High School, San Jose, Head Coach, Men’s Varsity Soccer      (2016 – 2017)
  • San Jose State University, CA, Mental Cond. Coach, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Softball           (2016 – 2016)    
  • Skyline College, San Bruno, CA, Assistant Coach, Men’s Soccer                 (2015 – 2016)
  • June Jordan High School, CA, Head Coach, Women’s Varsity Soccer        (2013 – 2016)
  • University High School, San Francisco, CA, Mental Cond. Coach, Boys’ Soccer      (2015 – 2015)
  • Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation, Byron, CA, Mental Conditioning Coach Intern   (2015 – 2015)
  • S.F. United, San Francisco, CA, Soccer Coach                                                       (2012 – 2013)
  • California National Guard B. co. 1-184 INF, Dublin, CA, Squad Leader   (2010 – 2014)
  • U.S. ARMY, FT. Lewis, WA, Team Leader                                                              (2007 – 2010)