Get to know: Kevin Esparza
You’ve seen him at Chivas USA games and if you’ve been to a training session, he’s there, too. Kevin Esparza, Director of Soccer Operations, has been with the club since the Red-and-White’s day one, initially starting out as Team Administrator and Assistant Coach back in 2005.
Esparza joined Chivas USA with vast coaching and administrative experience. The Orange, Calif. native studied and played soccer at Santa Ana College and Chapman University. He then moved on to coach Orange High School’s men varsity team and helped lead them to the CIF Championship.
Esparza also coached youth clubs such as Irvine Strikers, Orange Junior Soccer Club and the North Huntington Beach Soccer Club. Returning to his alma mater, Esparza also serves as coach for Chapman University’s men and women’s soccer team and was Director of Coaching at Desert United Soccer Club before joining the Los Angeles Galaxy as an assistant coach in 2003.
Today, Esparza oversees team administration, and works with MLS on all player related matters. But at the end of the day, the Director of Soccer Operations only sees himself as one small piece to the puzzle, working tirelessly everyday to improve the club in whatever way he can and get the team to where everyone wants it to be.
Here are a few other facts about Esparza:
-To unwind, he puts on his earphones and goes on long bike rides.
-Favorite food is Mexican (to be more specific, he likes tacos al pastor from Tacos Jalisco in Orange)
-Most fond memory with Chivas USA has been winning the InterClasico against Mexican First Division team Club America in 2005 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
