A familiar face returns to Tucson to take the helm of FC Tucson Pro Academy for its second year.
FC Tucson announced Friday the appointment of Sebastian Pineda as the new Head Coach of the Pro Academy and as the new Assistant Coach of the First Team.
Pineda joins the staff after serving as an assistant coach at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for one season. He previously was the assistant coach at NAIA Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa for three season.
Pineda helped Duquesne to a 10-7-2 finish in the 2021 regular season. The Dukes went on to the Atlantic 10 Championship where they lost 2-1 to Saint Louis.
At Graceland, Pineda helped the team to three consecutive Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament appearances. During the 2018 season, the Yellowjackets reached the quarterfinal round before losing to Missouri Valley College.
Pineda was deployed as a defender during his playing career. He was a three-year starter for Graceland. He was named to the first team All-Heart of America Athletics Conference as a senior.
Pineda also featured for FC Tucson during the 2015 and 2017 seasons. In 2017, he made 14 appearances for the club and scored once. He also played for the Austin AzTex and OKC Energy in the United States.
The San Andres Islas, Colombia, native completed his master’s in sports management at Johan Cruyff Institute/University of Barcelona in 2018. He also holds 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.
FC Tucson Pro Academy is committed to bringing a clear Path-to-Pro for all players in Southern Arizona. More information on the academy will be released in the following weeks. (LEARN MORE).
