Staff Directory

Julian Ortega

Title:
Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
Email:

Julian Ortega is in his first season as an assistant coach for the Highlanders. He has a wealth of elite experience, championship pedigree, and a proven track record of developing top-tier goalkeepers across the NCAA Division I and Division III levels. Most recently, Ortega spent three seasons (2022–2024) as the Assistant and Goalkeeper Coach at Division I Loyola Marymount University (LMU), where his tactical training helped guide the Lions to a historic 2023 NCAA Tournament Elite 8 appearance.

Prior to his tenure at LMU, Ortega served on the sidelines at Cal State Fullerton in 2021, heavily contributing to the Titans' scouting, match preparation, and daily technical development.

Ortega first made massive waves on the Southern California collegiate circuit during a highly decorated two-season stint at Claremont McKenna College (2018–2019). As the Assistant and Goalkeeper Coach, he helped orchestrate one of the most dominant defensive stretches in modern Division III history, capturing back-to-back SCIAC Regular Season titles, a SCIAC Tournament Championship, and a 2019 NCAA Sweet 16 appearance that earned his group West Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Under Ortega's direct tutelage, the 2018 defensive unit finished first in the nation with an extraordinary 0.216 goals-against average, stifled opponents for 15 total shutouts, and tied the legendary NCAA Division III single-season record for shutouts per game at a remarkable .833 clip.