Aaron Avila enters his third season leading the Barton Community College women’s soccer program.  Selected as the Conference Coach of the Year in his first season, Avila has led the Lady Cougars to a 28-8-2 record the past two seasons with a 21-3-2 mark in the Jayhawk Conference.

This past season the Lady Cougars reached the final four of Region VI concluding the season with a 1-0 loss to finish at 13-4-1 overall and a 11-1-1 record to tie for second place in the Jayhawk Conference.  Spending much of the season in the national polls, the Lady Cougars finished the 2014 campaign at No. 16 in the NJCAA rankings.  Seven Lady Cougars achieved post-season honors bringing the total to thirteen players to earn honors in Avila’s two seasons.

In his first season leading the Lady Cougars, Barton finished third in conference play at 10-2-1 losing in the Region VI semifinals to finish at 15-4-1.  Earning the Coach of the Year honors for taking the Lady Cougars to higher levels and earning six post-season honors, Avila and the Lady Cougars finished No. 14 in the NSCAA Division I poll.

Avila came to Barton from Tyler, Texas, where he was the assistant coach for the Tyler Junior College men’s soccer team.  Arriving at Tyler in January 2011, Avila helped lead the Apaches to a third place national finish.  He coached a 2nd Team NJCAA Division I All-American and two players on the NSCAA/Continental Tire Junior College Division I All-America Team.

  Coaching Credentials:

Prior to Tyler, Avila coached both the boys and girls teams at West Jones High School in Laurel, Mississippi. In his four years as the head coach of the girls and three years as the head coach of the boys, Avila guided West Jones girls to four division championships, two south state championships, and one state championship.  On the boys side he led them to three division championships.  For his efforts Avila was named the 2008 MAC girls coach of the year and was chosen as the MAC South All-Star team head coach for the boys.

Avila began his coaching career at Jones County Junior College where he led the men’s team to the program’s first South Division title and appearance in the Mississippi state championship.

A native of El Progreso, Honduras, Avila played collegiate soccer at Meridian Community College where he was a member of their 2000 national championship team.  He then continued his career at Mississippi College to earn his bachelor degree in mathematics while also earning ASC All-conference honors. 

Avila was also an accomplished high school athlete as he was selected team captain, named the team’s Most Valuable Player for three years, was selected as the District Most Valuable Player, and earned All-State honors.

Avila also has earned coaching credentials in obtaining the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Premier diploma, NSCAA Level 2 Goalkeeping Diploma, and a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National B License.

"Aaron brings to Barton an array of experience at all levels of soccer,” Trevor Rolfs, Barton Athletic Director said. “From a highly successful playing career, to recently being on staff at one of the premier junior college soccer programs in the nation, I feel Aaron will elevate our women’s soccer program here at Barton to levels unseen since its inception.  I am extremely excited about the future of women’s soccer here at Barton!"