Francisco Bernal enters his first season on the Blinn College men’s and women’s soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer. Prior to Blinn, he spent three seasons as the assistant coach for the Nimitz High School boys’ and girls’ soccer teams.

While at Nimitz, the boys’ soccer team won three consecutive district titles. The team made school history after winning back-to-back-to-back district titles in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2017, the boys’ team made its second deepest run in school history after reaching the regional semifinals. Goalkeepers on both the boys’ and girls’ teams were named the Goalkeeper of the Year for all three seasons Bernal was the goalkeeper trainer. As a player, Bernal was a member of the Nimitz boys soccer team that made the longest playoff run in school history when it reached the regional finals in 1999.

Bernal also served as the assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer for the Prairie View A&M University women’s soccer program in 2016, and was involved with recruiting. Under his direction, the Panthers managed five shutouts, produced eight more goals, and had 16 fewer goals scored against it.

Bernal began his coaching career with various club teams in Houston. He found success at the club level coaching teams to state and regional titles, and oversaw one team that competed in the U.S. Club Soccer Nationals in 2013.

Bernal played collegiate soccer for San Jacinto College and was a part of a team that qualified for the NJCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament his freshman season. He also played for the National Premiere Soccer League’s Houston Regals club soccer team.            

Bernal is a U.S. Army veteran, where he served as a combat medic for approximately 10 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Houston-Downtown.