2025 Coaching Staff

Head Coach, Pete Afato
Assistant Coach, Kenji Ortiz
Assistant Coach, Brianna Valencia

Pete Afato – Head Coach, Yuba College Women’s Soccer

Pete Afato brings a wealth of playing experience and coaching expertise to the Yuba College women’s soccer program. His playing career began at Yuba City High School, where he developed into a standout leader before moving on to Yuba College, serving as team captain from 2017–2018. His performance earned him a scholarship to Sierra Nevada University, where he continued to excel, before transferring to Florida Memorial University to complete his collegiate career. After college, Afato played semi-professionally with Roseville FC, Yuba FC, and Inter San Francisco (2023 U.S. Open Cup), advancing to the Round of 32 against some of the top professional teams in the country. These experiences gave him firsthand insight into the technical, tactical, and mental demands of competing at an elite level.

Transitioning into coaching, Afato has built an impressive résumé across high school, collegiate, and semi-professional soccer. He is the founder and head coach of Yuba Football Club, a semi-professional side competing in the WPSL & TLFC. Since launching the club, Afato has developed it into one of the most competitive programs in Northern California, providing opportunities to both local talent and international players.

On the women’s side, Afato has led Yuba FC to two NorCal championships (appearing in all three seasons) in their first three years, quickly establishing the squad as one of the top women’s teams in the region. On the men’s side, he guided the team to a league championship in his first season and has reached the playoffs every year except twice. This year, the men’s team pulled off a signature win by knocking off the second-ranked team in the nation (Oakland SC) in the TLFC quarterfinals before their run ended in the semifinals against national runner-up Napa Valley.

At River Valley High School, Afato serves as the varsity girls’ soccer head coach, where he has revitalized the program with a strong emphasis on culture, discipline, and skill development. His teams are known for their tactical organization, work ethic, and resilience. Beyond wins and losses, Afato focuses on developing student-athletes who excel academically, demonstrate leadership, and are prepared for the demands of college soccer.

Now at Yuba College, Afato’s mission is to elevate the women’s soccer program by fostering a culture of commitment, competitiveness, and continuous improvement, while creating a clear pathway for local players to progress from high school to college to the professional ranks.

Coach Pete Afato
Phone: (530) 740-1739    
Email: pafato@yccd.edu