Quick Facts
Biography
Jorge Salcedo (born September 27, 1972 in Cerritos, California) is the current head coach of the UCLA Bruins men's soccer team. He is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in Mexico and Major League Soccer. He earned three caps with the United States men's national soccer team.
Player
High school and college
Salcedo, son of Hugo Salcedo, grew up in Cerritos, California. He attended Cerritos High School where he twice earned Parade high school soccer All-America recognition. He then attended UCLA and played soccer for Bruins from 1990 to 1993. During his four seasons with the Bruins, Salcedo 74 games, scored six goals and added seven assists. In 1990, his freshman season, Salcedo scored the decisive penalty kick shootout goal to give the Bruins the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. He was a 1993 first-team All-America and graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science.
Professional
Following his four seasons with the Bruins, Salcedo signed with the Los Angeles Salsa of the American Professional Soccer League. He then moved to Monarcas Morelia of the México Primera División for half a season in 1995. He joined Major League Soccer in 1996. In his rookie season in the league, he was a starter for the Los Angeles Galaxy and helped take his team to the MLS Cup Final. On February 1, 1997, The Galaxy traded him to the Columbus Crew for the first pick in the 1997 Supplemental Draft. On November 6, 1997, the Chicago Fire selected Salcedo with the ninth pick of the Expansion Draft. Half way through the 1998 season, on June 29, 1998, the Fire traded him to the Tampa Bay Mutiny for Josh Keller and a first-round pick in the 1999 MLS College Draft. On August 13, 1999, the Mutiny traded Salcedo to the Galaxy for Daniel Hernandez. The Galaxy released him during the season and he played two games with the Orange County Zodiac of the USL A-League.
National team
Salcedo was also a member of the US men's national soccer team, earning three caps with the full national team and captaining the U-17 team at the 1989 World Youth Championships and the U-20 team at the 1990 CONCACAF Tournament.
Coach
In 2001, Salcedo became an assistant coach with the UCLA Bruins. During his three seasons as an assistant, UCLA won the 2002 NCAA Championship and two Pac-10 championships. In 2002, he spent two short stints as acting head coach. In early 2004, UCLA hired Salcedo to replace Tom Fitzgerald as head coach. Salcedo was named the 2004 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year after leading UCLA to its third-straight conference title. In 2006, the Bruins went to NCAA Championship Game where they lost to UC Santa Barbara.