This month, we’re excited to feature Coach Adrian Yanez, the dedicated leader of BVB 17 – Black. We had the opportunity to ask Coach Yanez a series of questions to gain insight into his journey into coaching, fun facts about his life, and the valuable advice he has for young, aspiring players.

What motivated you to pursue a career in soccer coaching, and what do you love most about it?

What motivated me to pursue a career in coaching was all of my years of playing soccer. I played for various teams all across the El Paso Borderland region. I played in formative teams at the beginning of my career then I went on to play for more competitive teams. My playing career ended in my senior year of high school at Eastlake when we lost in the sweet sixteen round. A few months after that I saw that BVB was looking for coaches, and I saw this as an opportunity to still be involved with the sport that I loved.

Can you share a standout moment from your coaching journey that you’re especially proud of?

One standout moment from my coaching journey was when we won the EPPL league. We had just come off of our first season which despite only getting 4 points it really made me learn as a coach to see what team I was working with. That second season was truly special because the sense of belonging across the team was immense and also it was really special for an 18 year old coach to be able to win his first ever title with less than a year of experience. That is something that I will never forget.

What’s an interesting or little-known fact about you that might surprise people?

One little known fact about me is that I am currently the youngest coach here at BVB.

Who has had the biggest impact on your coaching philosophy, and in what ways has it shaped your leadership style?

One of the coaches that I have always looked up to is Sir Alex Ferguson. Ever since I became a coach, I have seen countless interviews and I have read his books and what not to try and understand his coaching philosophy. I think he has definitely shaped my leadership style in a way where I can be strict in the times when it is needed but I am also that person that the players could come up to me with full trust and tell me about anything that is going on whether it is good or bad.

What key advice would you give to young players looking to elevate their game and reach their full potential?

The biggest advice I would give to players is to enjoy the game and not be afraid to take risks. After my 12 years of playing, there were definitely those moments where I didn’t enjoy playing the game as much as I should’ve, which led me to lose confidence. Us as coaches we might get mad at you for making mistakes but the truth is that you as players, will only learn from those mistakes, and that is how you will reach your potential by taking those risks and loving what you’re doing. If you do this, I am 100% certain that you will make your soccer career that much better.

Benjamin Grajeda

Communications Coordinator

BVBIA - El Paso