Head coach Neil McGuire is entering his 15th season with the Bears in 2021. Throughout his time in Berkeley, he has led the California women’s soccer team to unprecedented success. The program’s all-time wins leader with 160 career victories at Cal, McGuire has an overall record of 160-93-32 during his tenure at Cal, good for a .618 winning percentage. McGuire has led the Bears to the NCAA Tournament in 12 of his 14 seasons in Berkeley, helping Cal to a streak of 14 consecutive tournament appearances from 2004-17, ranking among the longest streaks in all of Division I soccer.
Under McGuire’s tutelage, the Bears have amassed six All-Americans, 35 All-Region performers and 44 All-Pac-12 honorees. The team has seen consistent contributions from freshmen as 14 have been named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. The Bears have also won numerous awards as McGuire helped guide Arielle Shipp to the 2015 Pac-12 Player of the Year Award and Angelina Anderson was named National Freshman of the Year in 2019. Anderson also picked up Pac-12 Goalie of the Year and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2019, the second time a Bear has won both of those honors as Emily Boyd was the 2017 Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and Ifeoma Onumonu was the 2012 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Additionally, the Bears have excelled in the classroom since McGuire has taken over as Cal has had 24 members of the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, including eight on the 2019 team, which was a record for most women’s soccer student-athletes on an All-District team since the award was founded. Cal has also had 153 Pac-12 All-Academic honorees during McGuire's tenure. In 2020, Emily Smith was named the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Bear to win the award.
Throughout the 2020 season, Cal had to deal with uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bears played their games at Witter Field against a conference-only schedule in the spring of 2021, finishing the year with a 5-7-1 record. The youthful squad won three of their first four games, and followed with a victory over Stanford. Three players earned All-Pac-12 recognition and two representatives on the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team. Emily Smith was honored as the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was one of four Bears named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Cal had 20 players named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2020-21.
The Golden Bears got off to an historic start to the 2019 season, winning their first eight matches of the year. Cal’s 8-0 start matched the Bears' 2000 squad for the second-best start to a season in program history and the Bears quickly established themselves as one of the top defenses in the nation. Cal was the last team in Division I soccer to allow a goal in 2019 and recorded six consecutive shutouts to start the season, tied for the second-longest shutout streak in program history and the program’s longest shutout streak to begin a season. Cal went on to post an overall record of 13-5-3 on the year, including a 5-3-3 mark in Pac-12 play to finish fifth in the conference standings. The Bears registered a pair of Top-10 wins over No. 4 USC (3-0 on October 18) and No. 7 UCLA (2-1 on September 27), sweeping their LA rivals for the first time since 1996. With it's 11th 10-win season in the last 13 years, Cal earned an at-large berth to the 2019 NCAA Tournament, making the 26th postseason appearance in program history. Four players earned All-Pac-12 recognition at the conclusion of the 2019 season, headlined by Angelina Anderson, was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year, becoming the first player in conference history to collect both honors in the same season. A Division I best eight Golden Bears were also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team for their efforts in the classroom.
On both the domestic and international levels, McGuire has overseen the development of multiple national team players, including US Women’s National Team superstar Alex Morgan. A four-year Bear, Morgan, is currently a member of the U.S. National Team, captured the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cup titles and won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, in which she scored three goals, including one game-winner. She also won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and took second place at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Morgan, one of most decorated Cal women’s soccer player in history, also was the No. 1 draft pick in the 2011 WPS draft, marking the first-ever top draft prospect for the Bears.
McGuire has also worked with numerous other Bears who have played internationally for their countries. New Zealand Football Ferns’ stars Daisy Cleverley and Betsy Hassett are two examples as Hassett has played at three world cups and three Olympics, while Cleverley has played with the Ferns at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and made her Olympic debut in Tokyo. Additionally, Icelandic National Team member Katrin Omarsdottir debuted for the team in 2006 and played more than 65 matches for the team.
A number of McGuire’s players have inked professional soccer contracts across the globe. Cal has had seven NWSL draft picks in the past six years. Most recently, Emily Smith was drafted in the 2021 draft, but elected to return to Cal for one more season, before beginning her professional career with Racing Louisville. Cal currently has 16 players playing professionally across the world. The 2013 graduating class was impactful as four players signed professional contracts out of college - Rachel Mercik (FFC Turbine Potsdam), Nina Pedersen (Liverpool LFC), Emily Kruger (KR Reykjavik) and Genessee Daughetee (Montpellier Herault). Additionally, former Bear Samantha Witteman was selected as the No. 10 pick in the 2016 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride.
McGuire is the Bear’s all-time leader in victories as he has tallied 160 victories in 14 seasons with the Bears. He set the school record for all-time wins in Cal’s 2017 season opener vs. UC Irvine as the Bears won, 2-1. The Bears have gone to 12 NCAA Tournaments during his tenure, including a streak of 11 straight appearances from 2007-17.
The 2018 season saw a youthful Bears squad finish 5-12-2, but showed continued development throughout the course of the season despite untimely injuries. Striker Abi Kim, who missed most of preseason while competing for the United States at the Under-20 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, earned All-Pac-12 (Third Team) and All-Region (Third Team) recognition after leading the Bears in scoring for the second consecutive season. The Bears continued to excel in the classroom, collecting the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the sixth year in a row and posting the team's highest cumulative GPA in over a decade.
The 2017 campaign saw the Golden Bears earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and the opportunity to host in the opening round, wrapping up the year with a record of 13-6-1, including a 6-4-1 mark in Pac-12 play. This was Cal's fourth consecutive season with at least 13 wins and the Bears' tenth season 10-win season in 11 years under McGuire. Ranked in the Top 20 nationally for the majority of the season, the Golden Bears rank among the top defensive teams in the nation in 2017. Six Cal players were recognized by the conference for their play this season, including a pair of First Team All-Pac-12 Selections in defender Indigo Gibson and goalkeeper Emily Boyd. Boyd was also named the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year, the first player in program history to earn that distinction. Gibson was later named a 2017 First Team All-American while Boyd earned Second Team All-America recognition. McGuire has now coached five players to All-America seasons in his tenure at Cal, including a pair of First-Team All-Americans in Gibson and Alex Morgan '10. Gibson went on to be named a semifinalist for the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy, Cal's first since Morgan was a Hermann Trophy finalist in 2010. Eight Golden Bears earned Pac-12 All-Academic recognition and Cal earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic award for the fifth consecutive season.
The 2016 season saw the Golden Bears record their sixth straight 10-win season during McGuire's tenure and ninth in 10 years. Cal ascended to as high as No. 10 in the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) national rankings while producing three positive results against ranked teams - a 1-1 draw against No. 10 UCLA, a 4-0 win at No. 15 Texas Tech and a 1-0 victory over eventual national champion USC. Six players were honored by the Pac-12 for their efforts on the field - Ifeoma Onumonu (All-Pac-12 First Team), Arielle Ship (Second Team), Emily Boyd (Second Team), Emma Fletcher (Second Team), Mia Corbin (All-Freshman Team) and Abigail Kim (All-Freshman Team). Onumonu (First Team), Ship (Third Team), Boyd (Third Team), and Haley Lukas (Third Team) were each named NSCAA All-Region while nine total players were named Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention: Onumonu, Ship, Fletcher, Lukas, Kelly Fitzgerald, Lynsey Hromatko, Miranda Nild, Alexa Vandevanter and Heather Walleigh. Other highlights of the season included Boyd tying the school single-season shutout record (11) for a second straight year and earning several Player of the Week awards (NSCAA, Pac-12, NCAA, TopDrawerSoccer) the week of Oct. 10.
Cal ended the 2015 season with a 13-6-3 record finishing fourth in the Pac-12 conference, and produced some electrifying soccer. The season started with a bang with Cal winning the Duke Nike Invitational with a win over nationally ranked Duke, and a tie against 22 time national champion North Carolina. Cal’s signature win on the season was a 7-0 victory over perennial national power UCLA. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Boyd tied a school record of 11 shutouts on the season and Arielle Ship was named Cal’s first ever Pac-12 Player of the Year. Samantha Witteman and Ari Ship were named First team All-Pac-12, Celeste Bourielle and Emily Boyd were named to the All Pac-12 Second team and Emma Fletcher was an honorable mention for Pac-12 honors.
In 2014, Cal wrapped up a 14-6-2 season under McGuire with a 5-4-2 record in the Pac-12 to finish tied for fifth in the league. After hauling in one of the nation's top five recruiting classes, McGuire directed his 12 new freshmen and a young Cal squad to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2014 team averaged 2.14 goals per game, turning in 47 goals from 15 different players, and shut out seven opponents. Three Golden Bears were named to All-Pac-12 teams, adding to 10 Pac-12 All-Academic honors, and received an NSCAA team academic award for yet another strong season both in the classroom and on the field.
In 2013, Cal went 11-5-5 in its best start in 20 years. The Golden Bears went unbeaten through 13 games before eventually dropping a game to eventual National and Pac-12 champions UCLA. Cal clinched a 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament berth, losing in the first round to Santa Clara. Following the season, three Bears earned All-Pac-12 and NSCAA All-Pacific Region honors. Cal was just as strong in the classroom, with 11 Pac-12 All-Academic selections and an NSCAA team academic award.
The 2012 Bears went 16-6, finishing third in the Pac-12 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to San Diego State 2-1 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Four Bears earned All-Pac-12 and NSCAA All-Region nods – Hassett, Onumonu, Emi Lawson and Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick as Cal took home its first-ever Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award for Onumonu.
Cal won 12 matches in 2011 - its most since 2007 - and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship. The Bears, who climbed as high as No. 11 in the national rankings during the year, knocked off Santa Clara on the road in the opening round of NCAAs and nearly advanced to the third round of the tournament, falling to No. 16 Boston College in penalty kicks. Four Bears earned All-Pac-12 honors - Danielle Brunache, Hassett, Lauren Battung and Fitzpatrick - and a record 13 individuals were named to the Pac-12 All-Academic team, with Hassett also gaining NSCAA Scholar All-American recognition.
In 2010, Cal produced its seventh consecutive winning season and 24th in school history, going 9-6-5 overall and 4-4-1 to finish fourth in the competitive Pac-10 Conference. Cal advanced to its seventh straight bid to the NCAA Tournament and third consecutive trip to the state of Florida for postseason play. In Gainesville, Fla., the Bears lost, 2-1, to No. 2-seeded Duke.
McGuire guided Cal to finish the 2009 season at an 11-9-1 clip for the program's sixth-consecutive winning record and the 23rd in school history. The Bears went 4-5-0 in the Pac-10 to finish tied for sixth in the conference. With an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the year's selection marked Cal's 17th playoff bid in program history, the 11th in the last 12 years and the sixth straight. Thanks to a 2-1 overtime win over Auburn in the opening round, the Bears advanced to the second round, in which they lost, 3-0, to host and No. 1-seeded Florida State.
Under McGuire's direction, the 2008 squad recorded the program's 23rd winning season, finishing 10-9-1 overall and going 3-5-1 in Pac-10 play to finish sixth in the competitive league. The 2008 campaign also saw Cal earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for its fifth consecutive and 16th overall trip to the postseason. The Bears fell, 2-1, to No. 7 Florida in Gainesville, Florida, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Morgan, who scored the eventual game-winner to lead the U.S. to a gold medal in the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in December, led Cal in points (23) and goals (9). The team had nine players named to the Pac-10's All-Academic team.
In 2007, after spending two seasons as head coach at Texas Tech, McGuire directed Cal to a 15-5-1 overall record, to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and to a No. 11 national ranking. Cal finished in a tie for third place in the Pac-10 with a 6-3 mark, including a six-game winning streak to close the conference schedule. Overall, the Bears went 7-0-1 over their final eight games and carried that momentum into the 2008 season.
After the season, Morgan, Cal's top goal scorer, trained with the U.S. U-20 national team in preparation for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Nov. 19-Dec. 7, 2008, in Chile. Morgan was one of six Cal players to earn postseason Pac-10 honors, including first-team selection Courtney Hooker, who was also a second-team Soccer Buzz All-American. Morgan and Megan Jesolva garnered second-team Freshman All-America accolades from Soccer Buzz.
In addition to his responsibilities at Cal, McGuire served as one of the head coaches on the Region 4 Olympic Development Program staff, on which he has led the 1995 and 1994 age groups. In 2010 and 2011, he coached the Mustang Blast to back-to-back Northern California State Championships, winning the Far West Regional Championships in 2011 before finishing tied for third in points at the USYSA National Championships.
McGuire arrived in Berkeley with a proven track record of vast improvement at his two previous Division I stops.
He served as head coach at Mississippi State from 2000-03, taking over a program that was just 4-16 the year before his arrival and, within two years, improved the Bulldogs' record by 8.5 games.
McGuire averaged nine wins per season at MSU and established school records for overall wins and conference victories during the 2001 season. He was tabbed as the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year when he guided the Bulldogs to the first-ever women's conference title in Mississippi State athletics, leading his team to a share of the 2001 SEC Western Division championship. McGuire then spent the 2004 season as an assistant at Texas, during which the Longhorns finished with a 15-7-2 overall record, placed third in the Big 12 Conference and notched a No. 16 national ranking.
In 2005, McGuire moved to Texas Tech as head coach and quickly proved his rebuilding skills again. The Red Raiders went from one-game winners in his first season to notch seven wins in 2006 - most for the program in seven years. In addition to his collegiate experience, McGuire served as head coach of the Region 3 Under-19 team in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
McGuire began his head coaching career at Iowa Central Community College from 1996-97. He also served as an assistant at Iowa State (1998) and Arizona State (1999).
A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, McGuire earned his associate's degree in physical education with an emphasis on coaching from Telford College in Edinburgh before relocating to the United States. Upon his arrival, McGuire attended Augusta State University (Ga.), at which, while earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, he was named first-team All-Peach-Belt Athletic Conference four consecutive years. He was also a three-time NSCAA all-region selection. McGuire earned his master's of education degree with an emphasis in sports administration in 2003 from Mississippi State.
McGuire's professional career includes time with the Falkirk Football Club in Scotland, the Des Moines Menace Professional Soccer Club and the Arizona Sahuaros Professional Soccer Club.
McGuire holds a United States Soccer Federation Class A license. He joined the University of California family with his wife, Jesica, daughter, Kelyn, and sons, Ethan and Owen.
