Carlos Aguilar has been an assistant at San Diego State since March of 2020. Prior to SDSU, Aguilar worked at Cal State Fullerton where he served as the Titans’ assistant coach for six seasons.
In 2023, the Aztecs were the last team in the nation to concede their first goal, a school record stretch of 651 minutes to begin the season. SDSU rose as high as No. 17 in the national rankings after going undefeated in non-conference play (6-0-2) for the second time in the last three years. Individually, the Aztecs had four players earn All-Pac-12 honors, highlighted by Reid Fisher winning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the second straight year an Aztec has taken home those honors.
In 2022, SDSU earned results at Stanford and Oregon State for the first time in 10 years and had a stretch where they earned results against three top 10 teams in a two-week span, which hadn’t been done since the 1987 team’s run to the national championship game. Hopkins saw CJ Fodrey take home Top Drawer Soccer’s National Freshman of the Year and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors. Fodrey. who was drafted No. 13 overall by Austin FC in the MLS SuperDraft, was one of five Aztecs to sign a professional contract after the season, believed to be the most in program history.
In 2021, SDSU was undefeated through their first eight matches while recording seven shutouts and finished with a 7-3-0 record at home, their best winning percentage at home since 2011. They were ranked for the majority of the season and rose to as high as No. 13 in the national polls.
Following the season, goalkeeper Jacob Castro and midfielder Iñigo Villaldea were named to the All-Pac-12 First Team, marking the first time in program history SDSU had two First Team selections. Castro was the first Aztec goalkeeper to be named to the first team since 2006
In the shortened 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021, the Aztecs routinely started eight or nine underclassmen and went 1-7-2 with three one-goal losses, two of which were against top ten teams. SDSU knocked off No. 4 Washington 2-0 on March 28, 2021, Hopkins' first win and the Aztecs' first victory over a top-five team since 2006.
While at CS Fullerton, Aguilar helped the Titans reach the NCAA Tournament three times (2014, 15 & 17) and win the Big West South Division championship twice. This past season, Cal State Fullerton won their first eight matches and climbed to as high as No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
While at Cal State Fullerton under head coach George Kuntz, Aguilar assisted in APR tracking, scholarship allocation, scheduling and budget management while planning and executing training sessions and scouting opponents.
During his tenure with the Titans, he coached six all-region selections, 35 all-Big West honorees, three Big West Tournament MVPs and saw five Titans secure professional contracts.
Prior to his time at CS Fullerton, Aguilar worked under Kuntz at UC Irvine from 2011-14 where he helped guide the Anteaters to two NCAA appearances (2011 and 2013) and two Big West regular season and tournament championships.
Before coaching at UC Irvine, Aguilar played professionally in the USSF D-2 with the Rochester Rhinos in 2010, helping them win the regular season championship.
Collegiately, Aguilar played under Kuntz at UC Irvine (2008-09) where he was an All-Big West first team selection in 2009 and the 2009 Big West Conference Tournament MVP. In 2008, he was a part of the Anteater team that became the first in school history to win the Big West regular season and tournament championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Aguilar came to UCI from Taft College (2006-07) where he was a two-time Central Valley College First Team selection and helped his team win the Junior College state championship in 2007.
Aguilar played prep soccer at Palmdale High School, where he was named to the All-CIF third team and earned All-Golden Valley First Team honors. As a senior, he helped lead his team to the CIF semifinal match.
Aguilar is fluent in Spanish and holds a USSF C License and is working towards his B license. He graduated from UC Irvine in 2012 with a degree in criminology, law and society.