Utah State University Athletics

Manny Martins enters his fifth season as head coach at Utah State in 2025, after being named the fourth head coach in the program's history on May 24, 2021. He has led the Aggies to historic success during his tenure in Logan, earning Mountain West Coach of the Year and United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. 

Utah State had perhaps the most successful season in program history under Martins' guidance in 2024, winning a program-record 18 games, repeating as conference tournament champions, and hosting an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history. The Aggies made their first ever appearance in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll and climbed as high as No. 7 during a 12-0-2 start, tied with the 1960 men's basketball team for the highest-ever national ranking by any Utah State program in any sport. USU earned wins over three-straight Big 12 opponents, including reigning Big 12 champion Texas Tech and in-state foes Utah and No. 16 BYU. Utah State finished the season with just a single loss, going 18-1-5 overall and 7-1-3 in league play. In the conference tournament, the Aggies defeated Colorado State 2-0 in the semifinals then took down Boise State 2-1 to repeat as champions. They then earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament to earn the right to host Washington, where they fell in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. 

The Aggies set program records for goals (62), assists (65), points (189) and shutouts (15) in a season, out-scoring opponents by a combined 62-14 on the year to rank fifth nationally in goal differential, sixth in the NCAA in scoring offense and 10th in goals-against average. Defender Kaitlyn Richins was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and became the first All-American in program history as she earned third team recognition from Top Drawer Soccer. Goalkeeper Cora Brendle was named the Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and a program-record seven USU players were named to all-Mountain West teams, including five on the first team and two on the second team. Additionally, four Aggies earned spots on the league's all-newcomer team. A program-record five Utah State players also earned United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region accolades. 

During his third season at the helm of the program in 2023, the team went 14-8-1 overall with a 9-2 record in conference play en route to its first-ever Mountain West title and third-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Led by Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Kelsey Kaufusi, the Aggie defense posted a league-best .775 GAA, third-best in program history, while also leading the conference with 10 shutouts. In Mountain West play, USU out-scored opponents 18-6 while posting six shutouts before defeating Boise State 1-0 in extra time in the MW semifinals and defeating Colorado State 1-0 in the MW championship match. In addition to being named the league's coach of the year, Martins and staff were named the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

Utah State defeated No. 1 BYU 1-0 at Chuck & Gloria Bell Field on Sept. 16, 2023 for the first win over a No.1-ranked opponent in program history and just the second overall in Utah State athletics history. Five players earned Mountain West honors as Kelsey Kaufusi and Kaylie Chambers were named to the all-conference first team, while Kylie Olsen and Diera Walton earned spots on the all-conference second team. Summer Diamond secured a spot on the league's all-newcomer team. Kaufusi was also a United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region Second Team honoree.  

In the 2022 season, Utah State advanced to the Mountain West Tournament quarterfinals, reaching the conference tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013-14. The Aggies led the league in total points scored (87), total assists (31), total shots (300), total shots on goal (141) and were tied for first in goals scored (28). USU landed three players on Mountain West all-conference teams as juniors Kelsey Kaufusi and Alex Day, plus freshman Kaylie Chambers, were all named second-team all-MW. Chambers also earned MW all-newcomer team honors. Utah State had six players receive academic all-district honors from the association of College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA). Sophomores Bizzy Arevalo, Addy Symonds and Tenzi Knowles, juniors Kelsey Kaufusi and Kylie Olsen, and senior Sara Taylor all were awarded the honor.

In his first season in Logan, Martins led the Aggies to their most victories during the Mountain West era as Utah State opened the 2021 season with a 7-1-1 mark in non-conference play, the best record heading into conference play in school history. The non-conference slate included a 2-1 overtime victory at No. 18 BYU, the first win over a ranked opponent in USU history and the only loss for the Cougars at home in 2021. Under Martins, Utah State scored 30 goals, the most since the 2016 season as the Aggies set a school record with 34 total assists. Three members of the Utah State roster earned postseason conference honors as senior midfielder Ashley Cardozo was named first-team all-MW, junior keeper Diera Walton was named second-team all-MW and redshirt freshman defender Addy Symonds was named to the all-newcomer team.

In addition to league honors, Cardozo and sophomore defender Kelsey Kaufusi were named to the MW all-tournament team as the Aggies qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2016. The duo of Cardozo and Kaufusi were also recognized by the United Soccer Coaches with first- and third-team all-Pacific Region honors, respectively. Upon graduation, Cardozo signed a professional contract with FC Nantes in France.

Martins is the just the second minority head coach in USU history and the first since Marlon Sano led the volleyball program during the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

Martins joined the Aggies after seven years as a member of Oregon’s coaching staff and brought 22 years of soccer coaching experience within the college ranks, as well as time with the United States’ women’s national team. 

With the Ducks, Martins helped put together the highest-rated recruiting class in Oregon history in 2019, leading to one of the most successful seasons in UO history during the 2020 campaign. The class ranked No. 17 in the nation that year as freshman Ally Cook finished third in goals scored in 2019 before leading the team in goals scored in 2020. Martins also mentored a defense that set the Oregon goals-against-average as UO keeper Abby Steele broke the all-time career shutout record. 

The Ducks were ranked as high as No. 14 in the country during Martins’ tenure and individual players went on to find success in the professional ranks. Jazmin Jackmon became the first Duck to be selected in the NWSL draft, going in the third round to the Houston Dash. Marissa Everett became the first UO alum to score in an NWSL game when she found the net while playing for the Portland Thorns. And, Marlo Sweatman became the first Duck to appear in the FIFA World Cup after she helped Jamaica qualify for the world tournament for the first time in that country’s history. 

Martins has been associated with the U.S. women’s national team since 2013 and was an analyst and opposition scout during the women’s 2019 FIFA World Cup Championship run. Martins was also a member of the women’s national team staff during the 2018 U20 World Cup and the 2016 U17 World Cup. In 2018, the women advanced to the finals of the CONCACAF Championships, while capturing the CONCACAF Championship in 2016. 

Prior to his position at Oregon, Martins was a member of the UCLA women’s soccer staff from 2011-13, helping the Bruins gather the top recruiting class in 2013. UCLA also had the No. 3 recruiting class in 2012. The Bruins enjoyed a wealth of success during Martins’ tenure, capturing 15 or more victories each year and losing only one match at home over the course of the two years. With the Bruins, Martins coached a pair of No. 1 draft picks in women’s professional soccer: Sydney Leroux (2012/Atlanta Beat/WPS) and Zakiya Bywaters (2013/Chicago Red Stars/NWSL). Martins also coached four NSCAA All-Americans during his stay in Los Angeles. 

Martins was instrumental in developing various clubs in the Los Angeles area, serving as the director of coaching and player development for Los Angeles Premier FC, a member of the WPSL, and the Los Angeles Rampage. Martins served as head coach of both teams during his time with the clubs and was named the WPSL Coach of the Year in 2010.  

Martins’ first head coaching position came at Los Angeles Mission College, guiding the Eagles from 2006-11. Martins began his collegiate coaching career at LAMC, serving as an assistant from 2001-04, before spending three years as an assistant at Cal Poly Pomona from 2004-06. 

Martins cut his coaching teeth at his alma mater of Sylmar High School, becoming the head coach in 1998 and leading the program to a 101-54-22 record in seven seasons. 

Martins was born in Portugal and moved to San Fernando, California in 1993. He played soccer at Sylmar HS and LAMC. Martins earned a degree in kinesiology at Cal Poly Pomona in 2006 and holds a USSF A License and an NSCAA Director of Coaching diploma. He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English and Creolo. Martins and his wife, Lorena, have three children: Isaiah, Emma and London. 

Martins' Year-by-Year Record

Player Honors Under Martins

Top Drawer Soccer All-American Third Team
Kaitlyn Richins - 2024

United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team
Ashley Cardozo - 2021
Alex Day - 2024
Summer Diamond - 2024
Kaitlyn Richins - 2024
Addy Weichers - 2024

United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team
Kelsey Kaufusi - 2021, 2023
Tess Werts - 2024

Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
Kelsey Kaufusi - 2023
Kaitlyn Richins - 2024

Mountain West Newcomer of the Year
Cora Brendle - 2024

All-Mountain West First Team
Ashley Cardozo - 2021
Kelsey Kaufusi - 2023
Kaylie Chambers - 2023
Bizzy Arevalo - 2024
Alex Day - 2024
Kylie Olsen - 2024
Kaitlyn Richins - 2024
Tess Werts - 2024

All-Mountain West Second Team
Diera Walton - 2021, 2023
Kaylie Chambers - 2022
Alex Day - 2022
Kelsey Kaufusi - 2022
Kylie Olsen - 2023
Cora Brendle - 2024
Summer Diamond - 2024

Mountain West All-Newcomer Team
Addy Weichers - 2021
Kaylie Chambers - 2022
Summer Diamond - 2023
Cora Brendle - 2024
Ellie Hendrix - 2024
Austin Miller - 2024
Mia Mullenmeister - 2024