Ivan Becerra, a member of UCSB’s 2004 NCAA College Cup finalist team, is the new boys soccer coach at Bishop Diego High, Athletic Director Dan Peeters announced Friday.
Ivan Becerra returns to Santa Barbara to coach the boys soccer team at Bishop Diego.
Becerra takes over for Jesus Landeros, who led Bishop’s program for the last six years. He is familiar with the program, having worked with Landeros as JV coach during the offseason of his professional career.
Becerra has been playing professional soccer for the last five years, most recently with the Wilmington (N.C.) Hammerheads of the United Soccer Leagues Professional Division. In 2009, he played for the Ventura County Fusion, which won the Premier Development League national title.
He was a key member of the UCSB team that shook up the college soccer world. The Gauchos advanced to the College Cup final at the Home Depot Center, where it lost to Indiana in a penalty-kick shootout.
An All-Big West first-team forward in 2005, Becerra was drafted in the third round (27th overall) of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft by the Columbus Crew.
“This is a great hire for us” said Peeters. “Ivan has great ties to the soccer community here in Santa Barbara and we’re excited about his ability to not only coach, but inspire our players. “
