Luis Pulido
Luis Pulido
Title: Head Men’s Soccer Coach
Phone: 402 562-1263
Email: luispulido@cccneb.edu

Luis Pulido was named head coach of the CCC men's soccer team in July 2021, marking a return to the program after serving as an assistant coach in 2017 and 2018.

In his first two seasons, Pulido was named NJCAA Region 9 Coach of the Year after leading the Raiders to two league championships. During the 2021 season, the Raiders received votes for nationally rankings and hosted a region playoff game, both of which were program firsts since men’s soccer was reinstated in 2013.

Prior to his appointment as Raiders head coach, Pulido served as the head men's soccer coach at Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) in Mitchell, S.D. In his first season, he led the Tigers to post-season play for the first time in six years and had a player make the All-Great Plains Athletic Conference First Team for the first time in a decade. 

Before DWU, Pulido led the girls' soccer team at Columbus High School for four seasons. He compiled a record of 43-23 and led the Discoverers to two district championships and a Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference title.

In 2018-19, Pulido was named to the ‘United Soccer Coaches 30 under 30’ program. The program selects 15 men and 15 women from around the United States that are making a positive impact on the game of soccer, providing them with mentorship and professional development opportunities. Pulido is the first and only Nebraskan to receive this honor.

In 2017, Pulido created a soccer school called Mind’s Eye Soccer Academy, which gives players the opportunity to obtain soccer coaching at an affordable cost. Working with non-profit organizations to take soccer instruction to under-served areas, Mind’s Eye also works with clubs nationally and football associations abroad to implement a soccer curriculum that develops players from age 4 to adult.

Pulido is no stranger to youth soccer having multiple league and state cup championships at the club level. Also serving as an Olympic Development Program (ODP) coach for the Dakotas during the 2019-2021 seasons.

A native of Fremont, Neb., Pulido has a strong education background and has experience being a teacher at the middle school, high school and college levels. He obtained a bachelor's degree in education from York University and a master's degree in educational policy and administration from Dakota Wesleyan University. Pulido also holds a United States Soccer Federation 'C' License, Goalkeeping Level 1 Certification, a Director of Coaching Diploma, and a Premier Diploma from United Soccer Coaches. He most recently finished a year-long mentorship with Raymond Verheijen through FC Evolution, earning him points towards a UEFA License from the Dutch FA.

Pulido resides in Columbus with his wife Gemini and two children Benjamin and Victoria.