On April 6, 2026, Stan State head women’s soccer coach Adam James announced the addition of Stan State alum Ycela Ochoa as the program’s assistant coach.
“We’re excited to bring Ycela on as our assistant coach,” said James. “She leads with integrity, genuinely cares about our student-athletes and represents everything we want this program to be about.”
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue with this program in a new role,” said Ochoa. “Stan State has meant so much to me as a student-athlete, and I’m excited to give back and help our team continue to grow and succeed.”
Ochoa, who has served as a volunteer with the Warriors over the past two seasons, is elevated into a full-time role after competing for the program from 2021-23. She brings familiarity with the program, its culture and its commitment to academic and athletic excellence.
An Atwater native, Ochoa began her coaching career in 2022, working with club teams throughout the area while also serving as the varsity assistant coach at her alma mater, Buhach Colony High School, over the past three years.
The Warriors have reached the CCAA postseason in each of the past four seasons and captured the 2022 CCAA Co-Regular Season Championship.
During her career in the Red and Gold, Ochoa appeared in 29 matches. As a junior in 2023, she saw action in nine matches and totaled 162 minutes while recording five shot attempts, including two on goal. She played a season-high 42 minutes at Cal State San Bernardino.
In 2022, Ochoa started two of the 13 matches she played in and continued to make an impact both on the field and in the classroom. As a freshman in 2021, she played in seven matches and logged a season-high 29 minutes in Stan State’s 2-0 victory over Fresno Pacific on Sept. 4.
Ochoa also excelled academically throughout her career. She was named to the Department’s Honor Roll, the CCAA Fall Academic Honor Roll, the CCAA All-Academic Team and the CSC Academic All-District Team. She was also recognized on the D2ADA Academic Achievement List and was a member of Stan State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
