Bio

Manuel Hurtado
Head Coach
Office:

Head Coach Manuel “Pato” 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 NCAA Division II powerhouse San Francisco State University, where he further honed his coaching acumen at the collegiate level.

Coach Hurtado’s leadership comes at a pivotal time, especially for the Roadrunners 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 men’s and women’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.

~ Bio current as of May 2025