Alan Berrios begins his first season at Southeastern in 2020.
Berrios returns to Florida after spending last season as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator for NCAA Division I Northern Arizona. He helped guide the Lumberjacks to an 8-8-3 record, and qualified for postseason play losing to eventual champion Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference tournament quarterfinal. He spent the prior season with NCAA Division II Dixie State University, as an assistant coach. During his time at DSU, he helped guide the program to the RMAC Conference Tournament making it to the conference semi-final before bowing out to conference tournament champions Colorado School of Mines. During his time at DSU, he was in charge of recruiting as well as the defensive group.He spent the prior season with NCAA Division II Dixie State University, assisting with domestic and international recruiting, and managing camps.
“Alan brings a unique mix of strengths to our women’s soccer program,” said Watson. “He is a strong leader and a tireless recruiter who has worked at the club, NAIA, and NCAA levels. He will build a program known for its healthy culture and depth while maintaining a high level of play on the field. We’re excited to have him.”
No stranger to the NAIA, Berrios spent four seasons as the women’s soccer coach at Arizona Christian University, and was simultaneously the men’s coach for half of that time. He is the winningest coach in the school’s 10-year NAIA history, turning around a program that had only won 14 Golden State Athletic Conference games in its previous six years, to qualifying for the GSAC Tournament for the first time in his third season, and returned in 2018. On the men’s side, the Firestorm were tops in the GSAC in team GPA in 2015, and seven players earned Daktronics Scholar-Athlete recognition.
Prior to his time at ACU, Berrios spent four years as an assistant coach for the University of Tampa women’s soccer team. During his tenure at UT, the NCAA Division II Spartans produced a record of 59-18-12. In 2011, the Spartans won the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Regional Championship before bowing out in the NCAA Elite Eight to Armstrong Atlantic.
Tampa won their third straight Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship in 2012 before losing to the eventual national champion West Florida in the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2013, the Spartans were nationally ranked the entire season while rising to as high as number four in the nation in consecutive weeks. After winning 10 straight matches to open the season, Berrios helped the Spartans to five SSC victories as they advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA South Regional.
"I want to thank Southeastern president Dr. Kent Ingle, executive vice president Dr. Chris Owen, and athletic director Drew Watson for the opportunity to lead the Fire women's soccer program,” said Berrios. “It is an honor to be part of an institution that is faith-based and committed to excellence both on and off the field. I realized early in the interview process that not only the school's vision but sense of community within the athletic department and across Southeastern University made this opportunity feel like the perfect fit for me. I am beyond blessed, honored, and thankful to be working with a program that has already experienced so much success. My wife and I are incredibly excited about returning to Florida and joining the Fire family.”
Before heading west, Berrios coached at the club level with Tampa Bay United and Brandon FC/West Florida Flames. Before coaching at Tampa, Berrios served as the Director of Soccer Operations for the University of South Florida women’s team for one year. During his only season with the NCAA Division I Bulls, USF highlighted their season with wins over Georgetown and Marquette in the Big East tournament. South Florida advanced to their first ever NCAA Tournament in 2010 beating Auburn before falling to Florida State in the second round. The following four seasons, Berrios was an assistant coach at the University of Tampa, helping the Spartans go 59-18-12 and win two Sunshine State Conference Tournament titles.
“We are incredibly thankful for this new journey that the Lord has provided,” said Berrios. “A journey that guides us home brings us close to family and allows us to be part of a great institution in Southeastern University doing something I love."
Berrios graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a BA in General Studies.
