SAN DIEGO – San Diego State head men’s soccer coach Ryan Hopkins has announced the hiring of Carlos Aguilar as an assistant coach. Aguilar served as SDSU’s assistant from 2020 until 2024 before spending last season at Loyola Marymount.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Carlos back to the staff,” Hopkins explained. “He is a proven championship level coach at several different institutions as well as being part of our staff when we won the conference championship in 2024. I know our players will benefit from his soccer mind and attention to details.”
Aguilar was Hopkins’ first hire after being named San Diego State’s head coach in 2020. He helped SDSU earn a national ranking in three of his last four years at SDSU and was an integral part in the Aztecs winning the 2024 WAC regular season championship as well as having three players selected in the MLS SuperDraft, including two first rounders.
“I’m excited to be back at SDSU and to work alongside Coach Hopkins,” Aguilar said. "I look forward to helping guide our student-athletes to become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the field.”
In 2024, SDSU’s first season in the WAC, they went undefeated (7-0-1) and won the regular season championship after shutting out their opponent in six of their eight matches. In total, the Aztecs won 10 matches, their most since 2011.
In 2023, the Aztecs were the last team in the nation to concede their first goal, a school record stretch of 651 minutes to begin the season. SDSU rose as high as No. 17 in the national rankings after going undefeated in non-conference play (6-0-2) for the second time in the last three years.
Aguilar coached at LMU last season to be closer to family, and the Lions went 5-6-7. While there, he coached two current Aztecs in Jaxson Hutcheon and Greyson Moreno.
Prior to SDSU, Aguilar worked at Cal State Fullerton where he served as the Titans’ assistant coach for six seasons.
While at CS Fullerton, Aguilar helped the Titans reach the NCAA Tournament three times (2014, 15 & 17) and win the Big West South Division championship twice.
During his tenure with the Titans, he coached six all-region selections, 35 all-Big West honorees, three Big West Tournament MVPs and saw five Titans secure professional contracts.
Prior to his time at CS Fullerton, Aguilar worked at UC Irvine from 2011-14 where he helped guide the Anteaters to two NCAA appearances (2011 and 2013) and two Big West regular season and tournament championships.
Before coaching at UC Irvine, Aguilar played professionally in the USSF D-2 with the Rochester Rhinos in 2010, helping them win the regular season championship.
Collegiately, Aguilar played at UC Irvine (2008-09) where he was an All-Big West first team selection in 2009 and the 2009 Big West Conference Tournament MVP. In 2008, he was a part of the Anteater team that became the first in school history to win the Big West regular season and tournament championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Aguilar came to UCI from Taft College (2006-07) where he was a two-time Central Valley College First Team selection and helped his team win the Junior College state championship in 2007.
Aguilar is fluent in Spanish and holds a USSF B license. He graduated from UC Irvine in 2012 with a degree in criminology, law and society.