Please join us in welcoming our new Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, Alvaro Capra Barbera, to the Saint Mary’s University community! We are excited to welcome Alvaro to our school. Below, you can learn more about him and get to know him better.
“I came to the United States in 2017 with the opportunity to continue my soccer career while pursuing a degree. I began my journey at Iowa Lakes Community College before transferring to Bellevue University in 2019. As a student-athlete, I earned a degree in Health & Human Performance and developed a strong appreciation for the balance between academics, athletics, and personal growth. Having experienced that journey firsthand as an international student-athlete, I’m passionate about helping players navigate and succeed in all aspects of college life.
After graduation, I immediately stepped into coaching at Future Kidz, a nonprofit organization focused on providing high-quality after-school programming for elementary and middle school students. I later moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where I also played for Med City FC in the NPSL. During that time, I connected with Neil Cassidy, who brought me back to Rochester to coach within the youth academy and assist with daily operations. Those experiences helped shape my passion for player development and building meaningful relationships with athletes on and off the field.
From there, I moved into an assistant coaching role at Hastings College before joining Saint Mary’s University full-time as an assistant coach. I’m excited to continue building a positive culture within the program while helping student-athletes grow as players, students, and people.”
We are thrilled to welcome Alvaro to Saint Mary’s and wish him every success in his new role. Please join us in extending a warm Saint Mary’s welcome!
