You Won't Believe What Juan Cervantes Just Revealed as the New Assistant Coach—Fans Are Outraged!

STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of the Pacific's men's soccer program has made a significant addition to its coaching staff with the appointment of Juan Cervantes as an assistant coach, as announced by first-year head coach Andres Ochoa on Monday. Cervantes, a native of Gardena, California, arrives with an impressive coaching pedigree, most recently spending six seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA.

"I am thrilled to be a Tiger," Cervantes said. "The University of the Pacific is an excellent academic institution, and I align very well with the values as we strive to enhance the life of our student athletes. I am eager to lace my boots and gloves and have an immediate impact with our goalkeepers and their development. I look forward to being part of a healthy & competitive culture of 'winning' while implementing the core values of our university and our athletic department. There is a lot of potential on this campus, and we will give our best efforts daily to bring back the winning days of this program."

Cervantes and Ochoa previously worked together on the Bruins' staff, where they contributed to a solid record of 50 wins, 37 losses, and 20 draws, along with five NCAA Tournament appearances. Ochoa praised Cervantes, calling him "one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the country," highlighting his ability to get goalkeepers ready for various challenges throughout the season, including injuries and performance issues.

During Cervantes’ tenure at UCLA, he played a crucial role in guiding the team to notable successes. In the 2025 season, he helped the Bruins reach the NCAA Tournament once again, leading to a remarkable 5-0 victory against Michigan and securing the program's first-ever Big Ten Conference Tournament title. This marked the Bruins' fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The 2024 season saw the Bruins struggle with a tough schedule, finishing with a 7-6-6 record but still earning a place in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Highlights from that season included an impressive 2-1 victory at home over No. 2 Ohio State and a dominant 6-0 win against Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals.

Cervantes also played a pivotal role in the 2021 season, assisting the Bruins to an 11-7-1 overall record. This represented an eight-win improvement over the prior season, which was the largest year-to-year turnaround in modern program history. Under his guidance, goalkeeper Justin Garces achieved career-highs in several categories and earned a spot on the Pac-12 All-Conference Team. Garces later signed as a Homegrown Player with Atlanta United FC just before the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

Before joining UCLA, Cervantes served as an assistant coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills, where he was the goalkeeping coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2019-20 season. His coaching journey includes stops at various levels, including collegiate teams like Santa Monica College and high school programs at Loyola and Santa Monica, alongside club and academy experiences with Beach Futbol Club.

Cervantes' playing career included 30 games at UCLA, 27 of which were starts. He contributed to the team’s successes, including a Pac-12 Championship in 2012 when he made four starts as a freshman. He was the starting goalkeeper for the 2015 squad that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Cervantes earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from UCLA in 2016.

As the Pacific men's soccer program looks to build a competitive culture, Cervantes' extensive experience and commitment to player development will be key in fostering the next generation of talent on campus, with hopes of rekindling the glory days of the program.

For updates on Pacific Men's Soccer, fans can follow the team on X (@PacificMSoccer), Instagram (@pacificmsoccer), and like their official Facebook page (Pacific Men's Soccer).