Eureka College has selected Ernesto Hidalgo to lead its women's soccer program as the seventh head coach in program history, Director of Athletics Sara Shaw announced Thursday.
"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Hidalgo to our staff," Shaw said. "He is an enthusiastic leader with a passion not only for soccer but also for student-athlete development. Throughout this process, it was clear that he is ready to take the reins and build something special. We are excited to see his passion transform our program."
Hidalgo brings a diverse coaching background spanning the junior college, NAIA, and NCAA Division I levels. Most recently, he served as the head coach at Briar Cliff University during the 2025 season, where he guided the program to a 5-12-1 overall record. Under his leadership, the Chargers earned one GPAC All-Conference Second Team selection and one Honorable Mention.
Prior to Briar Cliff, Hidalgo spent the 2024 season as an assistant coach at UC Riverside, where he played a key role in developing five student-athletes who earned national team call-ups. In addition to on-field coaching, he managed program operations and budgeting while conducting film analysis of practices and matches. He worked alongside his brother, Gerardo Hidalgo, who served as interim head coach during the 2024 season.
Hidalgo co-coached with his brother at San Diego Christian College during the 2022 season, helping the Hawks double their win total from the previous year while posting results in nine of 16 matches to finish with a 4-7-5 record.
Before being elevated to head coach, Hidalgo was an assistant at San Diego Christian for two seasons. In that role, he created individualized development plans for student-athletes and actively recruited talent at both local and national events.
Hidalgo began his collegiate coaching career at Fullerton City College, where he served as an assistant coach from 2017-20. There, he contributed to the program's academic success by monitoring student-athlete progress and supporting improvements in GPA. He also developed team fitness and weight training programs and helped organize team-building initiatives to foster a positive culture.
"I am incredibly honored to step in as the head coach for the women's soccer program at Eureka College," Hidalgo said. "From the very first conversation I had with Sara, the staff and the team, it was obvious that Eureka is a place that truly cares about the growth of its student-athletes. I'm excited to build a culture centered around grit and unity. I honestly can't wait to get out on the pitch with this group to see what we can accomplish together in this next chapter."
Hidalgo earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Arizona Global Campus.
He becomes the seventh head coach in program history and will lead the Red Devils into the upcoming season.