Aaron Avila is entering his fourth season as the head coach of the Newman women’s soccer program in 2019-20.
In his three seasons at the helm Avila has put together a strong overall record of 30-16-10 including a mark of 22-12-8 in Heartland Conference play. He has seen 18 players earn all-conference honors and seven earn all-region honors.
After taking over a program that had suffered five straight losing seasons, Avila has guided the Jets to three consecutive winning seasons, also setting almost every offensive and defensive record in the program's Division II history.
In his first year, Avila guided the Jets to their first winning season since 2010, going 7-6-5 and narrowly missing a bid to the Heartland Conference tournament. Newman started the season by closing out a 607-minute streak of not allowing a goal to its opponents.
The 2017 season saw the Jets finish with their second best record in program history going 11-6-2 overall and 8-4-2 in conference play. The Jets reached the Heartland Conference Postseason Tournament for the first time since 2013, and had seven players named to the All-Heartland Conference team, including Defensive Player of the Year Amy Strath.
In 2018, the Jets captured their best season in their Division II era, going 12-4-3 overall, while setting a Heartland Conference program record of 8-3-3. The team secured their second consecutive appearance in the Heartland Conference Tournament for the first time in program history. The Jets led the way landing seven individuals on the All-Heartland Conference team. Senior forward, Grace Linton captured the Heartland Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Avila came to Newman after four years as a head coach at Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas, where he led the Cougar women for two seasons before taking the reins of both the men’s and women’s programs for his final two years.
In his four years with the women, he compiled a 46-22-5 record, achieved multiple national rankings and reached the NJCAA Region IV semifinals each year. He coached 26 All-Conference players, 9 All-Region players, and the 2012 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. In his two years with the men, the Cougars put together a record of 21-8-4, achieved multiple national rankings, and reached the NJCAA Region VI quarterfinals and semifinals. He coached 13 All-Conference players, 8 All-Region players, 1 All-American, and the 2015 Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Prior to Barton, Avila was an assistant men’s coach at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, where he helped the team to an 18-1-4 record with 18 shutouts and a third-place finish in the NJCAA national tournament.
Before heading back to the college ranks, Avila spent four seasons as a head coach and one as an assistant at his alma mater, West Jones High School in Laurel, Mississippi. In four seasons at the helm of the girls program, he went 82-10-2, winning four straight division titles, two South State titles and the 2009 state 4A championship. Three years in charge of the boys led to a 43-18-1 record and three division championships.
Avila began his coaching career at Jones County Junior College as an assistant with the men’s program in 2004. He was able to make an immediate impact by helping the team win its first South Division Championship and state runner-up finish in its first MACJC title game appearance in program history.
Avila has always had success on all levels, coaching men’s and women’s soccer. He’s yet to have a losing season in his coaching career. At the collegiate level, Avila has an impressive track record as a head coach going 97-46-19. As a head coach at the high school level, he holds a remarkable 125-28-3 record.
Avila played collegiately at Meridian Community College in Mississippi, where he was part of the team that won the 2000 NJCAA Division I national championship. He finished out his career and earned his bachelor’s degree at Mississippi College, where he was a team captain and named team offensive MVP and first-team all-conference.
He received a master of science in sport coaching education from Southern Mississippi, and holds a Premier Diploma from the NSCAA and a National B License from the USSF.
