Diego Bocanegra is appointed interim women's soccer coach

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SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Diego Bocanegra of Alta Loma has been named interim head women's soccer coach at Cal State San Bernardino, signaling an end to the era of having one coach to head both the men's and women's programs.

Noah Kooiman, who directed both men's and women's programs for the past three seasons, remains on staff as head coach of the men's soccer team.

The funding for the new head coaching position was created by passage of a student fee referendum last February that will generate upwards of $500,000 in additional money per year for athletic operations.

Bocanegra, an assistant to Kooiman for the past two years in coaching both teams, brings a wealth of experience as a player and coach to the position and inherits 14 returning players to go with 13 new players, several of whom he has personally recruited.

The brother of current U.S. national soccer team member Carlos Bocanegra has previous coaching experience as an assistant at UC Riverside (2001-2004) and Pomona-Pitzer College (1998-2001), as well as Alta Loma High School and the Alta Loma Arsenal Soccer Club.

He currently is head coach of the Arsenal Girls Under 18 team and has owned, operated or coached at soccer camps in Southern California and at Ohio State. He holds a U.S. Soccer Federation National "A" License and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America national and advanced diplomas.

"I've been waiting for this kind of opportunity for quite a while," Bocanegra said Monday. He takes over a program that has fallen on hard times since advancing to the CCAA conference championship tournament in 2003. The women's team has a 6-28-4 record over the past two seasons, 3-24-3 in CCAA conference play.

"The challenge is one of creating our own identity," said Bocanegra. "I'm treating it like we are starting a new program. I want to get the girls to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past. I'm very pleased with the incoming class of recruits, many of whom are impact players."

Bocanegra said the "interim" title is not a concern for him. "At this point, it's what's best for the program. My challenge will be to prove the university made the right decision in order to secure full-time status the following year."

The Fresno State graduate (1997) played soccer at Grand Canyon where he was an all-CCAA performer in 1993-94, then moved on to UCLA where he red-shirted one season before closing out his collegiate career at Fresno State.

He is a graduate of Alta Loma High School where he was the CIF Southern Section and Mount Baldy League MVP in 1993.

The two CSUSB soccer programs have been operating under one coach since 1998 when Mike Avery coached both teams following the departure of Carlos Juarez and Gretchen Zigante after the 1997 season. Christian Johnson replaced Avery in 2000 and coached both teams through the 2003 season. Kooiman assumed the dual chore in 2004.

"I am pleased that Diego will provide the leadership the women's soccer program needs at this time," said Dwight Sweeney, interim athletics director. "He certainly has the experience, having been associated with the soccer program here the past two years, and his credentials are first-rate. He is establishing a precedent for having separate coaches for the two teams that I hope the new athletic director will continue."

CSUSB expects to hire a new athletic director in time for the start of fall classes.

Diego Bocanegra, Cal State San Bernardino women's soccer coach. Photo: Robert Whitehead/CSUSB