Bio

Entering her ninth season as Southwestern College Head Women’s Soccer Coach Carolina Soto has developed a high-caliber structured program that has assisted student-athletes in reaching their optimal athletic and academic performance.  Her efforts led to Southwestern College earning its’ first PCAC- South Conference title in 2018.  Along with bringing home an additional PCAC Championship once again in 2022.  The team has made several playoff appearances and earned the program’s best season record during the 2017 season.  Coach Carolina Soto was awarded 2018 PCAC-South Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2022 as well as the 2018 SWC Female Coach of the year.  Her student-athletes have been recognized as PCAC-South Player of the Year, PCAC-South Defensive Player of the Year as well as being name PCAC- South 1st Team players.  

Coach Carolina Soto believes in empowering her athletes through sport and education by providing young women with opportunities both on the field and in the classroom. Through out her tenure as coach, she has assisted players in transfer opportunities to reach the next level academically and/or athletically. Players have transferred to D1, D2 and NAIA soccer programs around the nation.   

Coach Soto graduated from Montgomery High School and has been a participant of several club teams in San Diego such as Crusaders Spirit and Bonita Rebels.  After playing at USIU in 1997-1999 Soto went on to continue at Cal State Long Beach where she earned both a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Chicano Latino Studies in 2004. She was a member of the San Diego Gauchos Semi-Professional Soccer team in 2006-2007.  Coach Soto earned her master’s at Azusa Pacific University in 2015 and her plan is to continue her education and earn a doctoral degree in the future. Carolina Soto is currently a Department Chair and full-time professor in Southwestern College’s Wellness, Exercise Science and Athletics Department.  

For over twenty years, Coach Soto has had the opportunity to coach a variety of levels, including: elementary, middle school, high school, and club teams. At the high school level, she served as Head Coach at both Montgomery and Chula Vista High School.  Her efforts assisted in building a strong program that led to tournament victories, and play-off and CIF appearances.   Her priority is to provide a strong mentorship, family-like atmosphere and fun coaching dynamic.  Coach Carolina Soto is an advocate for sports and athletics in the South Bay community; dedicated to continuing creating positive change which includes serving on the Hispanic Community Advisory Committee for the WPSL San Diego Wave Futbol Club.   Coach Soto’s biggest accomplishment is being the mother to her daughter Camila.  She enjoys traveling with family, music shows, and loves spending time at the beach.