Santa Clara men’s soccer adds Mykell Bates to coaching staff

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Via Santa Clara University) – Santa Clara men’s soccer head coach Cam Rast announced on Friday that the Broncos have promoted Mykell Bates as an assistant coach.

“We are really excited to hire Mykell. He had a standout career at Santa Clara as a defender who could also score goals,” said Rast. “The things he will be able to pass along to the team will be invaluable. What we are most excited about is what he will be able to bring as a coach. Mykell has great insights into the game. Working as a volunteer assistant this past season, he created a great rapport with the players. It was very evident that he was the right choice to help us re-emerge the program to the levels that we are capable of.”

Along with his duties as a Bronco volunteer assistant, Bates was the youth coach for the Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club, a role he has served since 2013, as well as coaching the U-17 Silicon Valley Soccer Academy.

“I am very excited about the new venture. It’s always great to be back home and I am looking forward to making an impact as soon as I can, where I can,” Bates said.

Prior to coaching at MVLA, Bates was selected in the second round of the 2012 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft by Toronto FC after a four-year career at Santa Clara.

The Roseville, California, native was a two-time captain on the 2010 and 2011 teams and was selected All-West Coast Conference First Team in those seasons. Bates led the Broncos to a conference championship in 2010. He was also named third team 2011 NCAA Men’s Division I NSCAA All Far-West Region.

Bates captained the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team in 2007 leading the squad to the round of 16 in the U-17 FIFA World Cup in South Korea where he scored three goals.

Bates replaces Ian Sarachan who spent the last three seasons on Rast’s staff.