University of California, Merced

Manuel Romero is currently in his fourth season as an assistant coach.   

With the former Bobcat midfielder on staff, UC Merced has gone 37-8-11 with three NAIA National Championship Opening Round appearances. Romero has also helped mentor a NAIA Third Team All-American, a pair NAIA Honorable Mention All-Americans and 12 All-Cal Pac First Team selections. UC Merced played to an 8-0-4 Cal Pac record in 2022,  9-2-1 in 2023, and 6-0-1 in 2024. The Bobcats won the Cal Pac Tournament Championship and a share of the Cal Pac Regular Season Championship in 2024. In 2023, the Bobcats beat WVU Tech 5-1 in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

Romero was a midfielder for the Bobcats from 2016-19 and helped lead the Bobcats to a trio of NAIA National Championship Opening Round berths. Romero was also a part of the squad that advanced to the NAIA Final Site in 2019.

Romero finished his career ranked top ten in program history having played 68 career games for head coach Albert Martins. Romero scored five goals and was credited with an assist during his career. With Romero on the roster, the Bobcats played to a 38-3-2 record in Cal Pac play.

The Oakland, Calif., native has most recently played for Academica SC of USL League Two.