COD Soccer: Hurtado to lead both Roadrunners programs

College of the Desert Women's Soccer and Men's Soccer has hired Manuel "Pato" Hurtado to helm both Roadrunners programs.

Coach Hurtado returns to the Roadrunners with renewed vision and leadership, taking the helm of both the Men's and Women's Soccer programs at College of the Desert. His return follows a season as an assistant coach with NC2A Division II powerhouse San Francisco State University, where he further honed his coaching acumen at the collegiate level.

"We're excited to welcome Manuel Hurtado as the new head coach for both our men's and women's soccer programs," said Kaytlyn Blank, Director of Kinesiology and Athletics, in a recent interview with CODAthletics.com. "Manuel brings a wealth of experience and a unifying leadership style that will elevate both teams. He's the ideal leader for our student-athletes, our programs, and the Coachella Valley community. I'm confident his impact will be felt both on and off the field."

Coach Hurtado's leadership comes at a pivotal time, especially for the Roadrunners Men's Soccer team, which is coming off its 5th playoff appearance in 6 seasons. And the Women's Soccer team, which is coming off its most historic season to date. Under previous guidance, the team achieved a series of unprecedented milestones: their first co-Conference Championship, their first home playoff match, and their first-ever playoff victory - establishing a new standard of excellence for the program.

Before his stint at San Francisco State, Coach Hurtado made a significant impact at College of the Desert from 2017 to 2022. He began as an assistant coach for both the women's and men's programs and was elevated to Head Coach of the Men's team in 2021. In his tenure as head coach, Hurtado compiled an impressive .675 win percentage, guided the program to a graduation rate of 85%, and successfully facilitated the transfer of ten student-athletes to four-year universities to continue their soccer careers.

Beyond COD, Hurtado has contributed to the game at multiple levels. He has served as an Academy Scout for Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake, identifying elite talent across the region, and as the Area Director of Coaching for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he blended sport with mentorship and character development.

With a passion for player development, academic success, and competitive excellence, Coach Hurtado is committed to building championship-caliber programs that thrive on and off the field.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information, Photo & Story provided by COD Sports Information.