Sebastian Pineda
Head Coach
The San Andres Islas, Colombia, native first featured for FC Tucson during the club’s 2015 and 2017 seasons. Pineda rejoined the club in February of 2022 as the Head Coach of the Pro Academy and as the Assistant Coach of the First Team during its USL League One campaign. Sebastian Pineda will be joined by a coaching staff that includes Technical Director Jon Pearlman and Victor Verdugo who enters his second year as the goalkeeper coach.
“Sebastian has played a vital role in the history of FC Tucson and we feel strongly that he is the right person to lead our USL League Two team,” said FC Tucson Founder and President Jon Pearlman. “He deeply understands this club, league and city as both a player and coach and brings a coaching pedigree that can create a winning season. We look forward to working with Sebastian to provide the city of Tucson the best on-field product that our beloved fans deserve.”
Pineda joined FC Tucson’s technical staff in 2022 after serving as an assistant coach at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for one season. Pineda helped Duquesne to a 10-7-2 finish in the 2021 regular season. He previously was the assistant coach at NAIA Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa for three seasons, notably helping the Dukes to the Atlantic 10 Championship and assisting the team to three consecutive Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament appearances.
As a player, Pineda represented FC Tucson during their 2015 and 2017 USL League Two season, making 14 appearances for the club and scoring once in 2017. Pineda’s professional playing career includes stints with OKC Energy and the Austin AzTex.
“We are thrilled that Sebastian will be returning to the club as Head Coach,” said Chief Operating Officer Kyle Cornell. “Sebastian has shown the dedication needed for building a winning culture and we have been incredibly impressed at how he has led our team the past two seasons with our USL League One, USL League Two and USL Academy sides. This is an opportunity he thoroughly deserves.”
Pineda’s coaching credentials include a master’s in sports management from the Johan Cruyff Institute/University of Barcelona, a Football Business Management certificate from the Johan Cruyff Institute, a National Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches and a Soccer Scouting and Analysis Certificate from MBP School of Coaches in Barcelona. Pineda is fluent in English, Spanish and German.
