The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Director of Athletics talks new head soccer coaches

Director of Athletics talks new head soccer coaches - The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Athletics Director Darnell Smith answers questions during the news conference and meet and greet at Texas A&M University-San Antonio on Jan. 15, 2020. Smith is the inaugural athletics director for A&M-San Antonio. Photo by Victoria Martinez

The Texas A&M University-San Antonio soccer program added two new head coaches on Jan. 26 to manage men’s and women’s soccer for the upcoming season. 

Winning does play a part in building a newly found program, but when searching for new head coaches, having good character, integrity, discipline and responsibility are what stand out the most, according to Darnell Smith, Director of Athletics at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. 

With the growing athletic department at A&M-San Antonio, the additions of Roberto Jaramillo as the men’s head coach and Fredy Sanguinetti as the women’s head coach will help build a winning culture for the program.

“Both of them are exceptional coaches,” Smith said. “Some will call them gurus…they just know the game.”

Smith said he believes he found coaches who have a reputation for building programs, while being well-respected by players, and who care about the development of student-athletes, both athletically and academically. 

“We want to graduate student-athletes,” Smith said. “ We got quality degrees at A&M-San Antonio…the coaches have to believe that we’re going to graduate our student-athletes and put them into the workforce…so that they not only represent our institution, but they could carry those values and be competitive in those spaces too.”

Smith said he wants to build cultures of success and excellence, which is the expectation he has set for the department going forward.

“We’re going to keep growing and growing…it’s going to be exciting,” Smith said. “ As I like to say, we’re building champions…the goal would be competing for conference championships and also post-season play.”

About the Author

Raul Trey Lopez
Raul Trey Lopez is a communication senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. He is a first-generation college student. In his spare time, he likes listening to music. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in journalism while also maintaining his family flooring business.

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