Juan Cervantes joined the University of the Pacific men's soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach in January 2026.
A native of Gardena, California, Cervantes brings extensive experience in goalkeeper development, recruiting, and player mentorship. Prior to Pacific, he spent six seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA, where he worked alongside head coach Andres Ochoa. During his tenure, the Bruins compiled a 50-37-20 record, advanced to five consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and won the program's first Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship in 2025.
Throughout his time at UCLA, Cervantes played a key role in developing goalkeepers who advanced to the professional level, including Justin Garces (Atlanta United FC), Sam Joseph (Portland Timbers), and Nate Crockford (San Jose Earthquakes). In 2021, he helped lead UCLA to one of the largest single-season turnarounds in program history, improving by eight wins and earning an NCAA Tournament berth.
Before returning to his alma mater, Cervantes served as assistant coach, goalkeeper coach, and recruiting coordinator at Cal State Dominguez Hills during the 2019-20 season & Santa Monica College 2017-2019 season.
Committed to continuous growth and excellence in goalkeeper coaching, Cervantes has invested heavily in his professional development. He currently holds a U.S. Soccer B License, U.S. Soccer Goalkeeper C License, and  United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma, reflecting his dedication to implementing the highest standards of player development and modern coaching methodologies.
A former UCLA goalkeeper, Cervantes appeared in 30 career matches with 27 starts. He was a member of UCLA's 2012 Pac-12 Championship team and started for the Bruins' 2015 squad that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Cervantes earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from UCLA in 2016.
