The Texas A&M University-San Antonio men’s soccer team is practicing with a new head coach, who began his tenure with this young ball club this semester.
Roberto Jaramillo, who previously coached soccer at Southwest High School, was hired as the new head coach of A&M-San Antonio’s men’s soccer team in January.
Jaramillo said he had dreamed of becoming a men’s head soccer coach at the collegiate level, but he knew making sure it was a good fit for him and his family was most important.
The vacancy for head coach for A&M-San Antonio gave Jaramillo the chance to fulfill that dream.
My dream came knocking on my door…I just knew it was meant to be… Everything aligned…timing aligned… I was ready to take the next step.
Roberto Jaramillo, A&M-San Antonio men’s head soccer coach
When meeting with Darnell Smith, director of Intercollegiate Athletics, about the position, he knew that he couldn’t risk losing this opportunity, he said.
“I think he realized that I was not going to leave him alone until he gave me this job,” Jaramillo said. “I knew I really wanted this job so I went for it. …When you go for your dreams, shoot high and your dreams will come true.”
As a 17-year-old, Jaramillo began coaching his dad and uncles in a men’s soccer league, ultimately getting them to a third-place finish in a championship tournament.
Jaramillo saw the game deeper than just scoring goals.
“It was a great experience. …This was the first time I could apply tactics,” he said. “I fell in love with it. … The whole reason I actually started my first official coaching job (was) because I wanted to win a championship before my dad retired.”
In 2013, Southwest High School hired Jaramillo as head coach for the women’s soccer team. Following the 2017 season, he coached the men’s soccer team for the next four years.
“They took a big chance with me,” Jaramillo said, referring to the process of getting hired as a head coach with no experience at the high school level. “That’s why I was very loyal to them. …It was a special connection with the whole community.”
Jaramillo had a number of accomplishments during his nine-year tenure at Southwest High School including:
- Overall record of 137-41-15
- Five district titles
- Two regional tournament appearances
- San Antonio Express-News 2020 Coach of the Year
- 2021 Texas Association of Soccer Coaches Region 4 Coach of the Year
Jaramillo said he could never see himself leaving Southwest High School at the time. He knew that if he ever were to, it had to be an extremely good opportunity.
Jaramillo has begun practices while also recruiting players for the fall.
“I used to play FIFA just to build teams,” he said. “Now I get to do it. …And it’s just very exciting…nerve-wracking sometimes…so I love it.”
Jaramillo said he believes that there are a lot of talented soccer players in San Antonio that have gone to waste because of the lack of opportunities.
“We’re opening the doors to kids that maybe did not get that chance before,” Jaramillo said. “I don’t have them officially, but…half the players on this team are local talent. …I didn’t pick them just because they’re local…I picked them because they’re extremely talented players.”
Although talent matters during recruitment, grades are a deal-breaker, Jaramillo said.
“The first thing I look at is their grades,” he said. “We are students first. …if you’ve been taking care of what you were supposed to take care of in high school. …We’re going to look at you.”
As he continues to build the program, his expectations have been set for the upcoming season.
“We are going to be a team that works extremely hard,” Jaramillo said. “You’re going to get a very aggressive team offensively and defensively.”
Jaramillo has been given the keys to a very young program, which is unknown territory for a first-time head coach at the college level. But Jaramillo says he is enjoying the challenge of coaching a team that has competed for only one season.
“I could honestly tell you every morning when I’m driving here, I’m just happy,” Jaramillo said. “It’s like a dream come true. …I know how lucky I am that I get to have the job that I always dreamed of.”
For more information and news about A&M-San Antonio’s men’s soccer team, visit their social media accounts on Instagram @tamusa_menssoccer and Twitter @TAMUSA_MSoccer or follow the team’s coverage @tamusasports on all other media sources.
