Buena Vista University Women’s Soccer – Coach Mauricio Lozada

In today’s episode, I speak with Coach Lozada from the Buena Vista Women’s Program in Iowa. We dive into the timelines of his recruiting two classes at once. Coach also shares about the school’s strong science programs that prepare students for their next steps. Plus, we discuss how it is a blessing to have alumni as assistant coaches. Learn more about Buena Vista University Women’s Soccer.

Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to Discover College Soccer Today I’m lucky enough to be joined by Coach Mauricio at Buena Vista in Iowa. Welcome coach. 

Coach: Thank you. Thank you for having me. Appreciate it. 

Matt: Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for being here. Uh, you know, it’s, uh, mid-March here. We’re talking on a lovely St. Patrick’s Day.

Uh, I know I’m getting ready, uh, to drive up to Richmond, Virginia for the Jefferson Cup. It’s that high time of, of showcases, uh, as, as a D three Women’s program like. Where are you right now? Like it’s mid-March. Where are you with your class of 20 fives? How far along are you at all talking to 20 sixes?

Kind of what is your overall timeline looking like right now? 

Coach: Yeah. No, we’re actually in a very good spot right now. We’re, you know, finishing up our 25 class. We’re waiting on, uh, three, four kids to kind of, you know, give us the, the go ahead or hey, unfortunately it is not gonna work, kind of deal. Um, but we’re in a very good spot with that class.

And [00:01:00] then our 20 sixes, we actually, uh, are full swing with the 20 sixes, which I was, you know, the beauty of D three is that you never know when that kind of starts. And, uh, we’ve been very lucky ’cause I would say this 25 and 26 class overall have been really, um, aggressive and, and their recruiting process, which makes my job easier.

Uh, and in some ways, but also in in others. Uh, you know, being, being able to jog two, three classes at a time, it’s always fun. So. 

Matt: It is funny. Well, it, it, to me it makes sense that the 20 sixes are more quote unquote aggressive right now because you’ve got the roster limits coming into play, the potential for a 50 year of eligibility, which will shake things up.

And I think the, the, the 20 fives to a degree, definitely the 20 sixes are, are being, could have the biggest impact on any class ever. Right. I mean, it’s a little bit crazy. 

Coach: Absolutely. Um, it, you know, [00:02:00] this, this college world is always changing. You just gotta keep up with the times and just be informed, right?

Just be informed. I think that at the end of the day, that kind of makes, makes the process a little bit less daunting, uh, both from a coaching standpoint, but also as student athletes. So, um, you know. We, we find ourselves educating families a lot, which that’s, that’s also not something I thought would be, uh, part of the job, but hey, let’s do it.

Why not? 

Matt: Well, and that’s why I’m here too, trying to help that education process, uh, from afar here, um, well being kind of centrally located there in Iowa, when it comes to recruiting and hitting, hitting events, kind of what are your, what are the ones you like to see or go to the most? Where are you spending most of your time?

Coach: Yeah. So, um, we’ve been all over the place, so I just finished my, my second season here. So we’ve been very, uh, you know, we’ve gotten ourselves out there. Uh, we went to Florida, uh, Texas, California, Vegas a [00:03:00] couple times. Um, I, I haven’t made it to, you know, the upper North Atlantic. You know, um, that’s, that’s definitely on the cards.

Uh, but yeah, no, it’s, it’s been interesting, obviously for us, uh, you know, hitting St. Louis, Kansas City, the Twin Cities, you know, that perfect, you know, triangle in a way. Um, it’s, it’s always going to be part of who we are. Um, but again, venturing out west, uh, to the coast, definitely, uh, it’s, it’s, it’s part of something that we’re integrating into our recruiting process.

Matt: Okay, well, everybody always asks about, oh, do I have to play in this league or that league, uh, you know, to play in college. What, what leagues or, or, or maybe what specific tournaments or events or, or, or where do you get a lot of your players from? Where do you, where do you see success? 

Coach: Yeah, no, absolutely.

So, um, for our 25 class, for example, um, we got a couple from Royal Cup. Uh, we got a couple from, uh, players [00:04:00] last year. Um. We got a couple from the Kansas City, uh, well, we got one from the Kansas City area, but from a, uh, you know, kids that we’re waiting on to tell us yes or no, we still, we got ’em from there.

Um, so that’s, that’s kind of where we, you know, been a little bit more successful. Um, obviously Surf Cup is always a, a, a nice one just because it just, how, how big it is. Um. We, we have venture turned into the ECNL, uh, E-C-N-L-R-L-A little bit more, uh, obviously GA events with the winter showcases and, and those kind of things.

Um, so I, I wouldn’t say that it’s like, you know, one over the other, but it’s just a combination of all those that, um, to have put together our 25 class pretty well. And obviously we’re excited for the 20 sixes, um, because obviously they’re, they’re coming from those events as well. So, uh, it’s, it’s been, it’s been pretty good.

Matt: Okay. Well, when you’re at those events and you’re looking at recruits, kinda what makes up the hierarchy? Things you’re looking for both [00:05:00] on and off the field? 

Coach: Um, we are pretty much into culture and standards, right? So, uh, we, we watch, uh, warmups, we watch how they interact with coaches, uh, you know, how, how they care themselves after and, and, and how those conversations go.

Uh, obviously from a. The ability to make decisions, the ability to, uh, be, compose the ball, um, the, the impact right, quantify that impact, um, in a game any given time, uh, goes a long way. But, um, you know, we, we try to take in as much information as we can, uh, in, in those snippets of 30 seconds to, to five minutes, right?

Um, and, and that really gives us a good sense. But at the end of the day, this is a relationship, you know. Business, right? So as we, as we get to know them and as we get to have those conversations, and especially with parents as well, [00:06:00] that that goes a long way. So it’s just a combination of all those things.

Matt: Okay, well one component that seems to be growing even, uh, even at the D three level, but in, in women’s soccer is, is international players. Then you’ve got the transfer portal, junior college players, some of those, I guess quote unquote non-traditional recruiting, uh, spots there. So do, do any of those play into your recruiting at all?

Coach: International kids, not so much. Um, we are a small D three in Iowa, so. From a standpoint of, uh, not that it doesn’t make sense or anything like that, but it’s just not been part of the DNA of the program, if that makes sense. Right? Yep, yep. Will it be in, in the next five, 10 years? Maybe? Uh, depending with how everything changes, right?

But, but I would say that for, for now, international students are not, are not in the mix. I’m not opposed to it, it’s just more end of, of what has happened. Um, we’ve done [00:07:00] a, we’ve done well with juco, uh, student athletes and, and, and if you know the area here in Iowa, we have, you know, national JUCO Championship, uh, caliber programs.

Um, we have a very strong NAIA, um, conference. Obviously our, our division three, um, you know. Schools and obviously, you know, right. So we.

So, uh, definitely always having our, our head on a swivel and, and, alright, who do we need to go talk to? What are the relationships we need to create so that way we, we put ourselves, uh, in front of that, that talent. Right. Um, but it, it’s, it’s been pretty well for us. As, as we, I I would say that we, we stayed up with the times when it comes to everything else except for, for, uh, international student athletes.

Matt: Well, speaking of staying up with the times, it seems like ID camps are, uh, you know, all the [00:08:00] rage every, every school seems to have ’em. Are, are, do you guys have your own, do you and your staff work external camps? How do they fit in? 

Coach: Um, so I, I’ve gone and done, uh, uh, ID camps at other programs. We haven’t developed one, not so much ’cause we don’t want to.

It’s just been, uh, the focus for us has been more of personalized. You are, you’re it. When you’re here, you are our priority. We wanna make sure that, um, we talk about all the other things, the academics, the, you know, vibe of the school, right? What it could be, um, versus having, you know, 20, 30, 40 kids that sometimes it can be transactional, right?

So it’s just finding that fine balance. Um, and for me, I’m, I’m very proactive. So until I find that balance, I don’t, I, I don’t wanna do something that. I don’t necessarily believe in right now. Right. Would it be in five years that all of a sudden we, we have a, a topnotch uh, system? [00:09:00] Yeah, absolutely. Um, but it’s, I’m almost the, if it will, don’t fix it.

Yeah. Like it, it has helped. We, we got another, a very strong 25 class coming in ’cause they love and, and enjoyed time with us. And now our 26, we actually had. From California this weekend, and she loved it and it was all about her, right? So it’s like, okay, we’ll see, we’ll see kind of what goes, but, but I, I am very lucky when, when other programs ask us to come out and, and.

Do that. So I, I’ve been taking notes every time I got out, like, okay, this, this could work. Right. Um, and, and, and we’ll see. We’ll see. But it’s definitely in, in the cards of, of getting that because I, I don’t know how many emails a week we get of When is your ID cam? I’m 

Matt: working on it. Understood, understood.

Well, let’s shift gears. Talk a little bit more about the school. I’m sure some folks maybe not familiar with Buena Vista. You’ve been there, like you said, two seasons [00:10:00] now. What are some of the things in your couple years now that you’ve found that, that are outstanding? Some things that, that you really love about the school.

Maybe some things we wouldn’t even know by going through the website. 

Coach: Yeah, absolutely. So, uh, veno Vista is very much known for, uh, sciences, business, and, uh, education, right? So as long as you are within those, uh, programs, you, you’re gonna find that, um, the, we do a very good job of preparing our students, uh, for, for that professional career, right?

Um, we do have a very strong, uh, um, what’s it called? Um.

Biomedical premed like biology, um, you know, program that like, I, I usually have five to six and, and, and, and, and on the team that go through it. Um, we do a very good job of preparing our students, um, for, for, you know, medical school or [00:11:00] research. Um. The placement is very, very high in terms of okay, we’re preparing them for, for that next step.

Um, we are obviously a, a small rural university, so that rural health is probably, you know, something that it not a lot of us get exposed to. So definitely that’s a, that’s a huge plus for that. Our business school, obviously, uh, ranges from, you know, from marketing to sports to, uh, agricultural and. They do a very good job of, uh, connecting you with past, uh, alums that, you know, are high in, in those, in that business world of making sure that we, we utilize those connections as much as possible.

So, I, I would say that the school does, has done a very good job of. Continuing to invest in the right places. Right. Um, we’re, we’re building a new apartment style, uh, dorm that, uh, it’s, you know, obviously gonna enhance that student experience. And then, uh, [00:12:00] we are going into our athletic facilities and, and updating everything.

Um, our new, um, weight room is gonna open up here, uh, in August. So definitely, definitely wanna make sure that when the students are here, they, they see that. They’re support academically, but also if they are student athletes, uh, we’re, we’re doing our part to prepare them for, uh, uh, to, you know, be, be the best persons themselves on and off the field.

Matt: I love it. Well, you know, one of the struggles that that new student athletes especially can have is making the transition to the demands of, of college academics as well as college athletics. So what kind of support systems does the school have in place to make sure, you know, your female soccer players are successful?

Both on the field and off? 

Coach: Yeah, no, we have a very strong center for academic excellence. Um. And, and they go above and beyond from, you know, very [00:13:00] simple. Like, here’s how we schedule ourselves. You know, uh, here’s how, uh, we interact with our professors to make sure that, you know, you build really good, uh, professional relationships that not only help you now as a student, but also, um, could, you know, they could write your first letter of recommendation and, and those kind of things.

Obviously, tutoring. Um, and then if you have any, um, special services that you need, you know, extra time for tests or, um, you know, anything in between, they, they, they do a very good job with that. Um, obviously, you know, like I said, professors do a very good job of going above and beyond. Our classes are very small, so they know when you don’t show up.

They, we actually have this, uh, alert system between professors, staff, coaches that, uh, we, we [00:14:00] let each other know like what’s going on, uh, academically, uh, on the field, um, maybe some things that are relevant to make sure that we, we. We keep an eye on student athletes and just our students overall. Um, so I appreciate that because obviously sometimes you ask like, Hey, how’s school going?

Good. Okay. But when I get those emails of professors and it’s not just like, Hey, you’re doing bad, it’s also like, Hey, she nailed it, right? She, she did an amazing job in, in this final, give her a high five. Awesome. And I can go in there and say like, Hey, she, you know, she got athlete of the week, right? Like, so, um.

That level of like, all right, we, we really wanna go above and beyond and make sure making sure that they’re successful, um, goes a long way. Right. And so I, I, I, I feel like our, our school has done a very good job of, uh, almost any support system that is needed. Uh, we have it, and if we don’t go into the [00:15:00] community and be like, all right, what, what are some resources from a mental health perspective or just, you know, wellness overall, um.

That will enhance their, their time at BU. Right. So once it’s all said and done, they, they can say like, yes, I will do it again. Maybe I will do it a little bit different. Right. But I will do it again. Okay. All right. 

Matt: Love it. Well, take me back to maybe October heart of the conference season. Walk me through what does a typical week look like for a player in terms of, you know, winter practices, game cadence, meals, classes, all the things.

Coach: Yeah, absolutely. So, um, we, we typically train from four to 6:00 PM uh, barely do we go the two hours. Um, we’re usually at about an hour and 15, an hour and 30. Um, at the end of the day, they are students, so I wanna make sure that they have as much time in the classroom and, and obviously outside of it, to take their business.

Uh.

We do [00:16:00] have two weight room times, um, during the week, and those are usually at six in the morning, 45 minutes. So, you know, Monday and Wednesday they do wake up a little bit early. Um, but, you know, uh, overall, depending on if we have two games or one game, you know, it’s four training sessions, five training sessions in the game, right?

Um, we do travel. When we travel, we it. So, um, our students do, our student athletes do a very good job of Monday. They, they kind of remind professors, Hey, we’re gonna be, you know, going to ex school, we’re, we’re gonna be on the road. Um, you know, and, and making sure that they, they take care of business in the classroom.

Any, anything that they need to make up or anything that they need to, uh, stay on top of, they, they do very well with that. Um, and then obviously. Meals and stuff. They typically, most of ’em are, they, they do it together. Um, you know, morning [00:17:00] that 11 to one 30 is usually kind of that, that next break for, for them.

And then obviously our, our Sodexo, our cafeteria does a good job of, you know, when, when we need to maybe be outside of those times. Um, they, they do a good job of here’s here’s that field that your, your student athletes need. So, um. It is. It, it’s a whirlwind and it goes fast and, and we have to keep up and, you know, we need to make sure that, um, again, we, we stay with the times in terms of managing, you know, players from a fiscal, mental, emotional place.

And again, give ’em the tools as much as we can, uh, for them to compete. So, um. I, I am not so much one to, as my aware of the highway, uh, I ask my student athletes to, to take a lot of leadership and a lot of ownership of the program. So sometimes they come up with the great ideas and we implement them and they [00:18:00] work.

And sometimes it’s not a great idea, but hey, at least we know we tried it. And, and we can say that, um, it, it, it’s just a good way for them to, to practice having a voice and, and, and advocating for themselves. Putting themselves out there in a way where the worst that can happen is alright, no, that, that’s not gonna work.

You know? So, um, but overall I think we, we have changed some, some ways on how do we go of our, uh, our business on the field, off the field from my first season to then to this last one. And it’s, it’s. We’re turning in the right direction. So that’s, that’s a good thing. 

Matt: Well, let’s talk a little bit more about that, although on the field stuff and the team, well, first of all, I, I guess is there a roster size that, that you find is ideal that you’re trying to hit each season?

Coach: So my goal is to get to 30. Um, my, my goal is to get to 30. Uh, we, we haven’t been there as a program. Uh, we usually are in the [00:19:00] low twenties. Um, and, and that’s a great season it sounds like. Um, but obviously, uh, you know, four goalkeepers, 26 field players. When we get hurt, we get hurt when we need some, you know, time off.

It’s been tough. So I think that having that. Roster of 30 allows for, you know, people to, you know, take care of themselves and, and, and, you know, at the same time, have a competitive environment where, you know, uh, we can, we can expect a little bit more from each other. Um, but also it’s just a, you know, it’s also that supportive environment as well, right?

Of like, okay, hey, we’re, we’re there for you. We wanna make sure that everybody’s successful and all those kind of things. I think after 30 it’s. 18 to 22 year olds at our board get themselves in trouble. Um, and I, I don’t think I wanna babysit 18 to 18 to 22 year olds. So, you know, I think that that 30, 30 mark would be, [00:20:00] uh, a great way for us to, to be successful.

Matt: Okay, 

Coach: we’ll stop. So hopefully, hopefully 25 will, will get it. Okay. If not, 26. 

Matt: All right. Well, besides the roster players, you’ve got other staff that are involved in the program, so talk to me about that. Who, who else do you have as, as other coaches or maybe other support staff in the athletic department that help out with the team?

I. 

Coach: Yeah, absolutely. So, um, so actually one of our graduating seniors, um, captain, uh, she was one of our goalkeepers. She’s gonna stay on and, and become our, uh, full assistant. Um, she is on a, uh, part-time basis right now to kind of get, you know, uh, her legs under her and, and kind understand the shift that’s gonna happen and the transit’s.

Um, we also have had a volunteer assistant. Also an alum. Uh, she is actually the head coach of the local high school, um, and has been on for, for quite some time. And she’s done an amazing job of, again, kind of speaking from, [00:21:00] you know, I’ve been there. I, I’ve been on that field, I’ve been in this program. I, I, I know what you guys kind of going through, so I appreciate that.

I have those two, um, you know, two amazing individuals that will keep me grounded of like, okay. This is where we’ve been, this is, this is where we’re going. And, and kind of keeping that in mind. Um, and then our athletic trainer has been amazing. Um, she’s done a fantastic job of meeting our student athletes where they’re at and, and really personalizing, um, their, you know, return to play and just keeping them healthy, healthy and, and just having someone else to.

You know, to, to be a voice for them as well. And our strength conditioning coach goes above and beyond, uh, preparing them to, uh, you know, not, not, not just compete, but also, you know, uh, injury, uh, prevention and, and those kind of things that will, will help ’em be the best version themselves. So, um, and, and [00:22:00] he does a very good job of, I don’t have to beg them to do that piece.

I don’t have to like. You know, make it a task. I don’t have to make it a, uh, something else that, you know, the fact that they wake up at six in the morning during season to, to do that, and well, obviously not six, but 5, 5 30 in the morning to go do that, um, speaks to, to the great job that he’s done and, and making sure that that, um, is not something that they dread, right?

Uh, besides waking up early, but they actually going after it and, and putting in the work. So, um, this you. Staff has done a very good job of just giving them the tools, like I said, giving them the tools to be successful and, and our student athletes are doing a very good job of alright, picking them up and, and running with them and, and making it their own.

So, nah, it’s, it’s been fun to see that. 

Matt: Awesome. Well, what about you? You, you mentioned it a little bit earlier, but, uh, talk to me a little bit more about your coaching style and, uh, and what the girls can expect from you as their [00:23:00] head coach. 

Coach: Absolutely. Um, like I said, um, you know, we, we want good people. We want good people, number one.

Um, you know, that doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect, and that doesn’t mean that you cannot, you know, get mad or, or things like that. No. It just means that even in the tough times, you’re still looking for the best in people, looking for the best in your teammates. Um, that’s a huge part of what that student athlete experience going to be, right?

Having great people around. Um, second, obviously, we wanna make sure that you are taking care of business in the classroom. And if, and if whatever happens, life does happen, right? You are using every resource, every support system available for you to, um, you know, again, you came here to take care. You learn that degree, get that experience, um, go onto whatever that professional path might be.

And then, like I said, I, I, I take pride in, in having our student athletes take ownership of the program, um, the direction and, and, you know, the environment that’s on me, right? [00:24:00] Setting that up and, and making sure that, uh, I, I go above and beyond in terms of that training environment, pushing them to, uh, to, you know, work on their decision making.

The objectives, the ideas that will hopefully give ’em a chance to, to compete at, at the best possible way. And, but at the same time, again, there’s some things that, there’s some ideas that they bring and, and I’m like, Hey, I, I did not see that coming, but let’s go. You know, it works. Let’s go. I, you know, I’m not, I’m not one to be like, well, it’s my way or the highway.

No. Um, this is, this is a team effort. This is a. I want their time with our program to be one where we enhance their time in the classroom. And, and that means leadership. That means having a voice advocating for themselves. Um, and, you know, being able to say like, yeah, I, I left the program better than I found it.

That, I think [00:25:00] it’s the beauty of college athletics, right? Don’t get me wrong, we, we still wanna win. We still wanna get conference titles. We still wanna go into the, you know, national tournament at some point. But until that happens, we wanna make sure that we build a culture, right? We set the standards that allow us to, to have those, uh, opportunities.

Um, and, and it’s a collaborative effort, you know, um, it’s. That’s the, the beauty I think of working with 18 to 22 year olds, sometimes they keep you on your toes. Mm-hmm. So I love that. Um, that’s, that’s the reason why I’m in college athletics. Love it. 

Matt: Well, coach, really appreciate it. Gonna leave you with one last question, and that is, if you had one piece of advice for any girls going through this college recruiting process, what would that be?

Coach: Um, you know. It’s okay to ask for more. It’s okay to have high expectations. It’s okay to, um, you know, ask the tough questions. [00:26:00] You know, I, I think that’s the best way for you to know. Okay. Yeah. I, the, the shiny stuff, it’s those gonna be there and the it know, um, and the titles and all those kind of things that are gonna be there.

But when it really comes down to it, do you see yourself there? Because. You, you can make an informed decision, right? And, and, and it’s not just soccer, it’s the academics, it’s the financial piece, it’s the, you know, it’s, uh, how far is getting on a plane, how far, you know, three hours is. Um, and, and I think that, that, you know, going on those visits and, and really, um, asking our student athletes like what their experience is.

Um, and, you know, all of that goes a long way, right? Um, like that’s okay. And then, uh, I think sometimes we, we overlook that [00:27:00] the recruiting process can be daunting if you are. Not proactive. Like if you’re proactive and you like, you know, you know what you’re looking for, you know what, what, who you are, what you’re, what’s important to you.

It’s gonna get pretty easy, real quick if, if you, if you stay within that lane, you know what I mean? If you get distracted by everything else, that’s when I think it gets a little bit gray and stuff. But at the end of the day, like yes, it’s a team sport, but it’s four years. Right, like you’re, you’re, you’re really, uh, investing in yourself for four years.

So make sure that you have all those questions answered and, and you have all the information you need to, to make one of those big investments in in your lifetime. 

Matt: Yeah, 

Coach: absolutely. That would be my, that would be my. Uh, advice. 

Matt: Awesome. Well, coach, really appreciate it. [00:28:00] Really appreciate your time. Wish you the best of luck as you wrap up your recruiting classes and, uh, continue just driving that program forward this fall.

Coach: I appreciate it. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you.