Brian McManus

Brian McManus (born in Scotland) is a former Scottish soccer midfielder who is currently a Director of Coaching for the La Jolla Impact Select soccer club and the head coach of the UC San Diego women’s soccer team. He is a four-time NCAA Coach of the Year and has led UC San Diego to seven national championships. He also played in Scotland, one season in the Western Soccer Alliance and one in the American Professional Soccer League.

McManus played professionally in Scotland for Raith Rovers and Aberdeen F.C. . At some point, he moved to the United States. In 1986, he played for the San Diego Nomads of the Western Soccer Alliance. In 1990, he was with the Portland Timbers of the American Professional Soccer League. During these years, he was establishing himself as one of the top women’s collegiate soccer coaches in the nation.

According to his biography, he coached semi-pro soccer in Los Angeles, but there is no mention of a team, league or relevant years. At some point in his career he coached the Torrey Pines High School boys’ team. In 1986, UC San Diego hired McManus as an assistant with its women’s soccer team. In 1987, he became the head coach, a position he holds to this day. When McManus took on responsibility for the Tritons, they played at the Division III level. From 1986 until 1999, the Tritons won five Division III championships (1989, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999). During those years, McManus was a three-time NCAA coach of the year. In 2000, the Tritons moved up to Division II. McManus and his team quickly proved themselves, winning two consecutive national championships (2000, 2001) while McManus was the 2001 Division II Coach of the Year.