Bio

Coach Steve Aguilar grew up in Grandview, Washington—a small farming town in Eastern Washington where hard work and community values shaped his early life. He first got into sports as a way to avoid after-school work, but over time, he gravitated toward soccer, which quickly became his passion.

A major influence on his coaching journey was his high school coach, Anne Holden, who transformed a team known for red cards and chaos into a respected state contender. Her focus on discipline, academic accountability, and team culture left a lasting impression and ultimately inspired him to pursue coaching himself.

Throughout high school, Coach Aguilar was a year-round athlete, competing in cross country, basketball, and soccer. In college, although Central Washington University didn’t have a men’s soccer program, he became a founding member of the CWU Premier Club Team, ensuring soccer remained a central part of his life.

Coach Aguilar earned his Bachelor of Arts in Broad Area Social Studies in 2003 from Central Washington University, and his Master's in Athletic Administration and Coaching in 2024 from Concordia University (Irvine, CA). He is also Nationally Board Certified in Teaching, and currently serves as a social studies teacher at Clover Park High School in Lakewood, Washington.

With over 21 years of coaching experience, he has worked at the junior high, high school, and collegiate levels. He joined Pierce College as an assistant coach before the COVID-19 pandemic and has served as the program’s head coach for the past four years. His previous coaching roles include:

• Grandview High School (Boys Assistant Soccer Coach)

• Ferrucci Junior High in Puyallup, WA (Football, Wrestling, Soccer, Track)

• Puyallup High School (Girls and Boys Assistant Soccer Coach)

• Emerald Ridge High School (Girls Assistant and Boys Head Soccer Coach)

Coach Aguilar holds a Washington State Coach’s Certificate, has completed Glazier Clinics tactical training, and began coursework in the U.S. Soccer Grassroots Program before it was suspended due to COVID-19.

One of his proudest moments came in 2021, when his high school team won the West Central District 3 Championship in the post-COVID return season. At the college level, he finds the greatest satisfaction in seeing his players transfer to four-year universities, semi-professional teams, or professional clubs to continue their soccer journeys.

His coaching philosophy centers on three core values:

• Selflessness – Improving the team by improving teammates.

• Leadership – Leading by example and holding oneself accountable.

• Suffering – Embracing discomfort and growth to outperform the competition.

Known for his "hard but fair" approach, Coach Aguilar expects maximum effort from his players every day. Whether they’re at 100% or only capable of 80%, he wants full commitment to their individual best.

Outside of coaching and teaching, he enjoys building Star Wars LEGO sets—often joking that it’s more of a problem than a hobby—and competes in long-distance shooting competitions. A season ticket holder for the Seattle Sounders, he’s a passionate supporter of the game at every level. Coach Aguilar also stays busy at home with his three daughters and has been happily married to his wife Katie for 23 years.

His favorite quote is from Jess Aguilar:
"If you enjoy what you're doing, you'll never work a day in your life."

Coach Aguilar remains passionate about soccer because of its constant evolution and the strategic challenges it presents. More importantly, he values the opportunity to mentor athletes and help shape their growth both on and off the field. He hopes every player who passes through the Pierce program leaves with lifelong memories and pride in having helped build something lasting.