The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's soccer team announces Thiago Bastos as the new head coach, February 23, 2023. (Photo credit: University of Lethbridge)

By Emmanuel Point du Jour

U of L Pronghorns women’s soccer team names new head coach

Feb 23, 2023 | 3:49 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer team has announced Thiago Bastos as the new head coach.

Bastos, originally from Brazil, comes to the University of Lethbridge with six years of coaching experience in Canada. He was formerly an assistant coach at the University of Winnipeg, and an Academy Head Coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps Pre-Prospects.

Bastos says he is excited about the opportunity to come to the University of Lethbridge. “I could not be more excited and anxious. When I saw that the University of Lethbridge had the women’s soccer position open, I didn’t think twice about it. To be able to work with a top-ranked school and do what I love. I’ve always dreamed about being a University coach, and all this is like a dream come true,” he said.

Bastos is currently completing a master’s degree in high performance football from MBP School of Coaches, Barcelona, and he has training certifications in football psychology, physical preparation, mental health in football, and analysis.

When describing his coaching philosophy, Bastos said it involves coaching both on and off the field.

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“In my perspective, a strong program is not only focused on providing athletes an advanced technical/tactical program, it goes beyond that,” he said. “A strong program is where our players can have support in all aspects of their life as a student athlete. It is not only on the field that we will focus, but also ensuring their mental and physical well-being.”

Community involvement is also important to Bastos. “We want to make sure that we have strong community engagement,” he said. “Our community goes above and beyond to support us, so we have to make sure that we go above and beyond to support them. We hope that our student athletes by the end of their career, have a program that helps them grow their understanding of the game, their interpersonal skills, their character and their sense of community. We hope that after graduation we have not only developed players and their love of the game, but new leaders to our society.”

Bastos started as the head coach of the Pronghorns women’s soccer team during the off-season on February 1, 2023.

The women’s soccer team will host a camp on March 25-26, 2023 and kick-off the Canada West regular season at the end of August.

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