BOCA with Diego Bocanegra

Coach Diego Bocanegra is joined by friend of the pod Coach Blair Quinn while co-host Nick Zimmerman is in London with MSU. Tune in to get to know special guest Coach Shaun Soderling, current Director of Soccer Operations at Kansas University Women's Soccer. Listen to Shaun talk about his love for the game and how other sports played a role in his turn to soccer. Shaun brings great energy to the pod and gives listeners an inside look at his journey in the beautiful game. Check it out!Learn more about KU Soccer and Coach Shaun Soderling here

Coach Diego and Coach Nick are back with a quick episode chatting about their love for the game, the 2026 World Cup, Super Bowl in Las Vegas and Premier League games.  Check this one out!

The coaches are back in 2024 hitting the ground running. Coach Diego and Coach Nick talk Premier League, Super Bowl and dive into the culture, demands and changing landscape of coaching at the the highest levels of the game. What does the collegiate/youth recruiting trail look like? What about NIL deals? What do coaches learn from each other in their day to day work? What are the changes to the collegiate soccer landscape happening now?  What changes are happening across the women's game? Tune in to catch up with the coaches and hear what's happening in 2024.

Coach Diego and Coach Nick catch up and talk Champions League, Premier League, NCAA Head Coach movements and the lead up to the NCAA women's tournament semifinals. Did you watch the fairytale ending to BYU vs North Carolina? You should have. BYU, Clemson, Florida State, Stanford - who you got in the semis? Tune in to this one to find out who the coaches are picking.

Diego and Nick chat about Christmas decorations, the crazy Premier League weekend, and catch up on the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. Rounds 2 and 3 are coming up this week. Tune in and listen to the boys!

Nick and Diego sit down to talk NCAA Women's Soccer selection week. Diego is joined by friend of the pod, Coach Blair Quinn. Tune in to hear the guys chat about the upcoming NCAA tournament and what lies ahead.

Diego and Nick catch up after 3 big Mississippi State wins and a big Arsenal victory. They are joined by Head Coach of University of Nevada Women's Soccer Vanessa Valentine. Vanessa talks about the growth she has experienced through her coaching journey, her mentors, beach soccer and gives some advice to up and coming coaches looking to excel in their careers. Learn more about University of Nevada and Vanessa Valentine

Coach Diego and Coach Nick welcome UTEP Head Coach Gibbs Keeton to the show to talk about the journey of collegiate soccer, team culture, & the ups and downs of taking over a new program. Tune in to hear the boys chat!Learn more about UTEP and Gibbs Keeton

The boys are back discussing Messi's arrival in MLS, Coach Deion Sanders at Colorado, the new Premier League season and NCAA soccer action. It's been a while - tune in to catch up with Coach Diego and Coach Nick!

It's officially summer and the boys are back. Coach Diego and Coach Nick catch up on all things Arsenal, Manchester City, Premier League, transfer windows. Also hear the coaches give their thoughts on college recruiting events, college camps, ID camps, residential camps and what players and parents can expect from these events. Tune in to get some good insights on what players should be doing during this time of year and how to navigate all of the options throughout the summer months.

Coach Diego and Coach Nick are back at it after a long break. Tune in to hear the guys catch up and talk about some new updates to the transfer portal. It's a wild time in the NCAA and the guys shine some light on how student-athletes can navigate the current landscape.

Diego and Nick are back with another episode. Former professional player, Olympic medalist and TV host Lauren Sesselmann joins the podcast to discuss her passion for the game, how she got her start in soccer, her collegiate experience and everything that followed. Hear Lauren reflect on how her journey through the game has shaped her career on and off the field. This episode is brought to you by CALLE - check out the code below for a discount on their latest gear. Learn more about Lauren Sesselmann

Former NWSL professional with the Boston Breakers and Orlando Pride, UNC alum and current Columbus State University Assistant Coach Joanna Fennema joins the pod for the latest episode. Tune in to hear Diego and Nick chat with Joanna about her soccer journey from youth to pro to coach. Coach Fennema talks about the adversity she faced through her career and how she made it through. Tune in to hear this one!Learn more about Columbus State University and Joanna Fennema

The boys are back with a new episode of BOCA and this time they've got a couple of special guests that go back a long way. Former MLS and USMNT goalkeeper Nick Rimando and founder of street soccer lifestyle brand CALLE, Travis Winn, join the pod for a great chat. Don't miss the guys chatting about MLS, Premier League, the origins of CALLE and much more!Check out CALLE at CALLE.com and keep up with their latest adventures at @callepigeon on Instagram.

Tracy Hamm joins Coach Diego and Coach Nick on the newest episode of The BOCA Podcast. Coach Tracy chats about player led teams, personal development, Murph and Mia Hamm.  The coaches also chat about Tracy's unique path down the UEFA and U.S. Soccer Federation licensing and coaching education pathways.  Curious about the soccer coaching education landscape and developing your coaching career? Don't miss this one.Learn more about UC Davis and Tracy Hamm

Coach Diego and Coach Nick are back with another episode of the BOCA Podcast. Where do Arsenal sit in the EPL table? How are Manchester City doing? Listen to the boys chat about the current EPL standings before bringing on a friend and competitor in his 8th year with University of Alabama women's soccer, Coach Wes Hart. Listen to Wes chat with the boys about his beginnings in the game, how he spent the last several years building a program, reflecting on the success (as well as ups and downs) of the past season, and how the Spring season is coming along for his next campaign with University of Alabama.Learn more about University of Alabama Head Coach Wes Hart

Coach Diego and Coach Nick are back to kick off 2023! After a post-World Cup break, the guys got together at the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Convention and are back with the first episode of the new year.  Tune in to catch up with the guys and hear their thoughts on the World Cup, the latest Premier League matchups and the 2023 Philadelphia convention on the newest episode of The BOCA Podcast.

Diego is joined by former US Men's National Team star Jay DeMerit. Jay talks about his time with the USMNT,  life as a captain with Watford in the Premier League, challenges he faced on his path to success and much more.Diego also welcomes Coach Nick Zimmerman back to the pod. Learn more about USMNT Star Jay DeMerit on Twitter

USMNT legend, US Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and World Cup veteran Carlos Bocanegra joins the pod to talk all things soccer, life and World Cup. Listen in for some unique insights into a player's mindset entering the World Cup and a preview of the monumental USA vs Iran matchup which will determine the future of this USMNT at Qatar 2022.  Learn more about USMNT Legend Carlos Bocanegra

U.S. Men's National Team legend and World Cup veteran Tim Howard joins Diego and friend of the pod Blair Quinn to talk all things soccer, life and goalkeeping. You don't want to miss this one! Click here to learn more about USMNT Legend Tim Howard

LAFC are MLS Cup Champions and the women's college soccer season is heating up! The much-awaited end of season NCAA tournament is here (check out the bracket here). Diego and Nick are joined by friend of the pod, Coach Blair Quinn, to discuss the Women's NCAA Tournament and their thoughts on the upcoming matchups. Tune in to listen to the coaches talk all things women's soccer during the best time of the year - tournament time!

Coach Diego and Coach Nick talk all things NWSL, MLS, Premier League and College Soccer on this episode of The BOCA Podcast. The coaches are joined by long time friend and colleague Kai Edwards, now the Head Coach at Southern Utah University. Kai talks about his coaching career journey and how the challenges he has faced have helped him grow.  What should coaches look for early in their careers? What helped Kai succeed as a college coach working with top athletes? And listen to Coach Kai talk about the ins and outs of scouting and recruiting to get a unique look into the mindset of coaches as they build top tier programs in the collegiate game. Click here to learn more about Kai Edwards and Southern Utah University.

Coach Diego and Coach Nick review the recent matchups in both the NWSL and MLS Playoffs, matches in the EPL and NCAA; then they get into some conversations on managing personnel and making tactical adjustments on game day.  How do college coaches approach their personnel changes? How do coaches arrive at a decision to change their shape or tactics?  What happens when the game doesn't go to plan? Tune in to listen to the guys talk about planning, executing and making changes from the sideline on game day.

Jay Entlich joins Diego and Nick for a discussion on coaching paths and careers. Jay discusses how assistant coaches and the right staff can propel the success of a program. After 19 successful seasons at Columbus State University - how did Jay get his start in coaching? How did he go from the men's side to the women's side? And what does Jay do for therapy? Coach Entlich also gives his thoughts on what young coaches can do to grow and how adversity shapes every successful career on (and off) the field. Click here to learn more about Jay Entlich and Columbus State University.

NWSL Assistant Coach with the Washington Spirit Mike Bristol joins Diego and Nick to discuss his journey up the coaching ranks. How did his time working in youth soccer shape his path? What were the keys to Mike's success at Florida State and what challenges did they face (and overcome) during his time at FSU?Tune in to hear the coaches talk about the challenges of building and recruiting for a successful team - and how to continue to improve standards within a thriving program. Click here to learn more about Mike Bristol and the Washington Spirit.

How can players reach the highest levels of the game? Coach Diego and Coach Nick discuss what they believe a player must do to reach their maximum potential in today's youth soccer environment. Reflecting on their own journeys, the coaches talk about private training and how their environments molded their roads to success. How do players develop a love for the game?  What are parents doing that can foster, or hinder, a love for the game? Tune in and find out what Diego and Nick have to say on this topic.

TCU women's soccer Associate Head Coach Ryan "Higgy" Higginbotham joins the coaches for a special episode of the BOCA podcast. After 10 years at TCU, Higgy dicusses what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the collegiate game. What does it take to build a top tier program? What are the long term and short term goals? Coach Higginbotham talks about recruiting, scheduling, building relationships and how a 10-year, 5-year and 2-year plan with Coach Eric Bell at TCU has helped the program succeed.  Click here to learn more about Ryan Higginbotham and TCU.

Coach Blair Quinn (Associate Head Coach at University of Iowa women's soccer)  joins Coach Diego and Coach Nick to chat all things college soccer. Tune in to hear them cover the current season, dive deep into some early success stories of the year and give their predictions for teams in multiple conferences across the NCAA. Coach Blair also gives some insight into his coaching journey, his approach to training at the highest levels of the game and what it's like to work with the wild ones - goalkeepers. Click here to learn more about Blair Quinn and University of Iowa.

Diego and Nick sit down with LMU (Loyola Marymount University) Assistant Coach Chelsey Patterson to talk about several topics covering her soccer journey. What's the transition like from player to coach? What were the important factors that shaped her coaching as she learned from multiple coaches in different team environments? How can we recruit and retain more women in coaching?Click here to learn more about Chelsey Patterson and LMU.

Diego and Nick review last weekend's action and review some of the biggest NCAA matchups. The coaches chat about how a "team first" mentality and culture can drive players, coaches and teams to success. What type of mindset is needed to succeed at the highest levels of the game? How does the culture within a program affect the final results on the field? Leaders create culture, culture drives behavior, behavior produces results.  Follow Coach Diego on Twitter @Diego13BocaFollow Coach Nick on Twitter @MSUNickZimmerman

The guys are back catching up on EPL, MLS and NWSL as usual.  Diego and Nick dive into key matchups on both the men's and women's NCAA schedule. Which games caught their attention? Who's making waves early on in the season? Who is the real deal? How do current video analysis tools help teams, coaches and players prepare to take the field each day? Coach Diego and Coach Nick give us their thoughts on the role of video analysis in today's game.

Coach Diego and Coach Nick are back to talk about the start of the NCAA college soccer season. The guys analyze the early days of the EPL and MLS seasons, NWSL matchups and talk about the opening weekend of the collegiate soccer matchups. Diego and Nick list their top performers of the early days of the season. Which squads look ready to go? Any big upsets? How are teams, players and coaches preparing during the early days of the fall season?Which EPL team will not finish in the top 4 of the Premier League?ArsenalChelseaLiverpoolTottenhamManchester City

Cari Roccaro joins the BOCA podcast to talk with Diego and Nick about her path to the top. Cari recounts the journey from youth club soccer to Notre Dame, the U20 World Cup and the NWSL from her perspective. What has she learned as a professional that powers her to this day? How can a professional approach each day with focus and consistency amid all the distractions?Tune in to hear a great chat on this episode of the BOCA podcast. 

Diego and Nick are back with a new season of the BOCA podcast. The college soccer season kicks off and the coaches catch up while chatting about the summer break, Premier League and Euro matchups, the ins and outs of pre-season, mental preparation and setting the tone in the locker room for the year. What does it take to compete at the highest level of the game? How does an individual player's team preparation translate to life?Tune in to the new season for some special guests and fired up debates.

Diego and Nick end season 2 with a bonus episode covering June 15 - a date which signifies the first day of possible contact for many recruits in their journey to find the right college fit. Tune in for some thoughts on the (perceived) importance of this date for many future student athletes. What do Coach Diego and Coach Nick have to say about this unique date on the recruiting calendar?Send us a message and let us know what you'd like covered on the next season of the BOCA podcast.Enjoy the summer, we'll be back soon!Follow Coach Diego @Diego13BocaFollow Coach Nick @MSUNickZimmerman

Diego and Nick take a look back at Season 2 and dive a little deeper into a few episodes. What does it mean to be a role player? How do we address the mental health crisis in (and out of) sports? What is your "why"? How do we improve as coaches?   What's on the docket for Season 3? You tell us, we want to cover topics our listeners are most excited about.Send us a message and let us know what you'd like covered on the next season of the BOCA podcast.Follow Coach Diego @Diego13BocaFollow Coach Nick @MSUNickZimmerman

Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak is the current Head Coach for the UCF Women's Soccer program. Tiffany is a World Cup Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and has represented the United States more than 100 times. She joins Diego and Nick to discuss her path to becoming one of the most decorated female soccer players in US history and how her youth environment helped her get to the highest levels of the game. Tiffany talks about her growth as a coach, her time at North Carolina and how becoming a coach has helped her support athletes on and off the field by empowering them to embrace their own voice. How does she see the game differently as a coach now that she is on the other side?Follow Coach Diego @Diego13BocaFollow Coach Nick @MSUNickZimmerman

In this week's episode, Diego and Nick review some of the biggest games across multiple leagues. NWSL, Champions League, Premier League, MLS - you name it. How does watching the game improve player performance on the field? Why do women's soccer games get officiated differently than others? Plenty of questions come up in this special episode of the BOCA podcast - but if you have anything you'd like to ask, or any topics you want to cover, send us a message and we will try to get to it in a future episode. Looking for game highlights from today's episode? Visit www.diegobocanegra.com to check out some great goals and moments from the matches discussed. 

In this episode Diego and Nick dive into the collegiate recruiting world. Players and parents looking for some insight into the recruiting process - tune into this episode. What does the recruiting process look like from a college coach perspective? How do coaches prepare? Where are coaches looking for players? What should players expect when coaches and scouts come to watch them play?  Diego shares a list of must-haves for any soccer trip.Follow Coach Diego @Diego13BocaFollow Coach Nick @MSUNickZimmermanVisit the blog at DiegoBocanegra.com for Coach Diego's list of must haves for every soccer trip.

Morgan Ferrara is a former professional and Division I student-athlete, UCF Athlete of the Year, AAC Player of the Year, former Division I coach and current PhD candidate at the University of Houston. Mo joins Diego and Nick to talk about her path through youth, collegiate and professional soccer. Morgan discusses her research at UH, her experiences with athlete mental health both as a coach and player. What can coaches do to help their players navigate the college experience? How can we better utilize resources to address mental health issues? What does life look like once an athlete's career on the field ends?  

Diego and Nick chat about the U.S. Open Cup, Premier League and the recent NCAA rule change affecting regular season overtime periods and Golden Goals during post-season play. What does it mean for coaches and players as they approach each game? What is the response in the college soccer community? 

A string of injuries in the NWSL, a pre-season match between Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC and a Twitter spat over the Yo-Yo test spark an interesting chat on periodization, rest and recovery.  How can we measure fitness and fatigue? When do players need a break? How can parents, coaches and players manage the high school and club soccer dilemma?

The USMNT qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Diego and Nick talk about their paths up the coaching ranks and detail the steps they took to grow their careers. How did they get their first coaching job? What advice do they have for young coaches and players?  Did Coach Nick ever find his Twitter handle? Yes he did.Follow Coach Nick at @msunzimmerman on TwitterFollow Coach Diego at @Diego13Boca on Twitter Have a question for Coach Bocanegra or want a topic covered in the next episode? Leave a message here.

Danesha Adams joins Diego and Nick to discuss her journey through youth, college and professional soccer. Currently the Co-Head Coach at the University of the Pacific, Danesha's unique perspective gives us a look into her approach to coaching young athletes and improving the soccer community.

Diego and Nick discuss the importance of finding the right fit in the college search and dig deep into the details of recruiting, NCAA scholarships and how players can navigate the very small soccer world during their decision making process. Also, what are the effects of the NCAA Transfer Portal in a post-pandemic era?

In the first episode of Season 2, Diego introduces his new co-host Nick Zimmerman. Diego dives into Nick's love for the game and helps us get to know his new co-host. Get an inside look at the path taken by Nick through his youth, high school, college and professional career - and his transition into coaching. 

Diego kicks off the second season of his podcast with a special announcement: a new co-host joins the team.  The BOCA podcast adds a new segment featuring special guests and unique personalities from all over the soccer world. Listen in for a special glimpse into recruiting, coaching and playing from grassroots to elite levels of the game.Season 2 kicks off March 30, 2022 

It's that time of year again. Pre-season is winding down and regular season games are kicking off soon. Many players across the country have started their collegiate sports journey - with a new team, new head coach and new expectations. Listen to incoming University of Houston players discuss their experiences, while current team members let you in on some lessons they have learned along the way. Coach Bocanegra kicks off the UH Women's Soccer season vs Oklahoma on August 19th at 7:00pm in Houston, Texas.Have a question for Coach Bocanegra or want a topic covered in the next episode of BOCA? Leave a message here.Visit Diego Bocanegra and the BOCA podcast at DiegoBocanegra.com. 

In this episode of BOCA with Diego Bocanegra, Coach Diego has some advice for parents. What can parents do to help their children succeed at sports? Coach Bocanegra gives us a few tips on how to navigate the youth sports world with your child. Players - share this with your parents and have a discussion that can help everyone involved in your sports journey. Coaches and parents - listen up! Have a question for Coach Bocanegra or want a topic covered in the next episode of BOCA? Leave a message here.Visit Diego Bocanegra and the BOCA podcast at DiegoBocanegra.com.

In this episode of the BOCA podcast, Coach Diego guides you through the process of attending a college showcase while positioning yourself for success. What can you do to stand out in the right ways? What common mistakes can you avoid? Tune in and listen to these tips to make the most of your showcase experience. Have a question for Coach Bocanegra or want a topic covered in the next episode of BOCA? Leave a message here.Visit Diego Bocanegra and the BOCA podcast at DiegoBocanegra.com.

What does the recruiting process look like for young athletes? How can you reach out to college coaches and give yourself the best chance at success? In this episode of BOCA, Coach Diego gives step by step instructions on how to write an email and communicate with a college coach. Understand what a college coach is looking for and what specific details you should include in your communications. Have a question for Coach Bocanegra or want a topic covered in the next episode of BOCA? Leave a message here.Visit Diego Bocanegra and the BOCA podcast at DiegoBocanegra.com.