Bernardo Silva Named Cal Poly Women's Soccer Head Coach
12/21/2024 9:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Bernardo Silva, who led Cal State Bakersfield women’s soccer to unprecedented heights the last two seasons and previously served as an assistant on the Cal Poly coaching staff from 2013-16, has been named head coach of the Cal Poly women’s soccer program, Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman announced Saturday.
“I’m so incredibly proud to welcome Bernardo back to the Mustang family,” Oberhelman said. “He brings a tremendous amount of energy, passion and purpose to everything he does, and I’m confident those attributes will translate into our women’s soccer program excelling at a high level for a number of years under his leadership.”
Being the head coach at Cal Poly has been a dream job for me ever since I left ... in my opinion, this is one of the best jobs on the West Coast.Bernardo Silva, new Cal Poly Women's Soccer Head Coach
In his second season at Cal State Bakersfield this fall, Silva helped the Roadrunners become the first team in the school’s history to reach a Big West Championship since the institution joined the conference. After leaving his mark at CSUB, Silva said he is extremely excited to return to San Luis Obispo and coach at a university that means so much to him and his family.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman and President Jeffrey D. Armstrong, and the search committee of Senior Associate Athletic Director of Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator Keri Mendoza, and Cal Poly Athletic Director’s Council member and Cal Poly women’s soccer alumna Cathie Cardoza Conner for their belief in me, my leadership and my vision for the women’s soccer program at Cal Poly,” Silva said.
“Being the head coach at Cal Poly has been a dream job for me ever since I left, and I don’t say that lightly,” Silva said. “I have so much belief in Cal Poly, it’s academic and athletic excellence, and what this program can achieve. I feel like it’s a sleeping giant and, in my opinion, this is one of the best jobs on the West Coast.”
Silva was an assistant on the Cal Poly women’s soccer staff for four years, serving as a volunteer assistant in his first season in 2013. He spent the next two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before being promoted to associate head coach in his final season in 2016.
“Bernardo’s love for Cal Poly and the Central Coast is evident,” Oberhelman said. “His knowledge of the Big West will be a great asset for our program, and allow us to achieve immediate success.”
What I’m excited about is the opportunity to ... lead a program that’s going to compete for Big West titles every year and push for higher regional and national success. I believe that’s possible at Cal Poly and you see it being done with other sports here and I want women’s soccer to be part of that.Bernardo Silva, new Cal Poly Women's Soccer Head Coach
After being picked to finish ninth out of 11 teams in the 2024 Big West Preseason Coaches Poll, Silva led the Roadrunners on a remarkable run to the Big West Championship match this fall in the team’s first-ever appearance in the Big West postseason tournament. As the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, CSUB took down three-time defending Big West champion UC Irvine 1-0 in the first round before securing a decisive 3-0 victory over No. 1 seed and Big West regular season championship Hawai’i in the semifinals to earn the program’s first Big West Championship appearance. In the final, the Roadrunners battled No. 3 UC Santa Barbara to a 2-2 draw before coming up short in penalties, 8-7. Under Silva’s guidance during the 2024 season, CSUB set Big West program records for conference points, victories, goals scored, fewest goals conceded and All-Big West honorees. Silva also helped the Roadrunners achieve their longest unbeaten streak in program history.
Silva said Mustang fans can expect him to pour everything he has into this position and be relentless both in preparation and passion.
“What I’m excited about is the opportunity to return to a place where I was extremely happy,” he said, “and lead a program that’s going to compete for Big West titles every year and push for higher regional and national success. I believe that’s possible at Cal Poly and you see it being done with other sports here and I want women’s soccer to be part of that.”
At Cal Poly, Silva wants to create a product on the pitch that is exciting and inspiring for the whole community to watch. He expects his team to play with some “grit” and “bite,” and be determined to push forward and find the back of the net whenever they possess the ball.
“We need to be a multi-faceted team that can adapt to any style we face,” he said. “People ask me, ‘what’s your style?’ My style is I want to find a way to win the game in whatever way that game requires us to do.”
Silva is set to be the second head coach in the history of the Cal Poly women’s soccer program. Alex Crozier retired following the 2024 season this fall after leading the program for 33 years. Silva said he feels honored to follow in the footsteps of someone that was so instrumental in shaping him into the person and coach he is today.
“Working under Alex for those four seasons was pivotal for my career,” he said. “He was a head coach that gave me a lot of autonomy to learn hands-on and grow in all the aspects involved with running a Division I program.”
Following his stint as an assistant on the Cal Poly coaching staff, Silva served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, UCSB, during the 2017 season. He then joined the Sacramento State coaching staff for five seasons from 2018-22, taking on multiple roles. He was a volunteer coach in his first year before being promoted to an assistant role prior to the 2019 season. He was elevated to associate head coach following one of the greatest seasons in the history of the Sacramento State program in 2019 that saw the Hornets record a 17-match unbeaten streak, go 11-2-6 overall and set multiple program records, including for most shutouts (10) in a season and best goals against average (0.61). During the COVID-impacted 2020 season, Silva helped the Hornets extend their regular season unbeaten streak to a program record 22 matches. Silva took over as head coach at Cal State Bakersfield prior to the 2023 season.
While Silva was an assistant at Cal Poly, he mentored four All-West Region honorees and helped the Mustangs capture the Big West regular season championship in 2013. Prior to joining the Cal Poly women’s soccer staff, Silva worked as an assistant on the men’s team for the Mustangs in 2012. During his sole season with the program, he helped the team match a school record for Big West victories.
Silva graduated from UCSB in 2011 after playing for the Gauchos, and also studied at Loughborough University in England. While there, the Portugal native earned the opportunity to serve as an intern for the famed Scottish club Hearts FC.
Silva said Cal Poly is the perfect fit for him and his philosophy, and he can’t wait to get to work.
“The current roster I believe is loaded with talent,” he said, “and I believe I can provide a vision, a belief, a structure and an environment that’s going to allow all that talent to shine through.”
