Only a few months into his new role as head coach, Andres Ochoa ’18 is implementing positive change within University of the Pacific’s men’s soccer program.

The focus this spring has been on reshaping the program’s culture, something Ochoa believes was necessary from the start.

“It’s been exciting. The overall experience is humbling, just to be back at a place that I love,” said Ochoa, a former four-year starter with the Tigers from 2014-17 and a team captain. “It’s not about reinventing the wheel. It’s about getting people to think the same way.”

That shift has centered on accountability, both on and off the field. From academics to training habits, Ochoa has encouraged his student-athletes to raise their standards and take collective responsibility for the team’s progress.

“If just one player is not doing well in a class, that’s the team’s fault. We are a family who looks out for one another,” he said.

The message has resonated with returning players and newcomers.

“The new staff has been very professional and have made sure that we, as players, are holding ourselves to the highest standards,” said James Andrew ’27, a business major who started in seven games this past season. “All of the returning players have been given a fair chance to prove ourselves and our practices and spring exhibition games have been very competitive. I think we can surprise a lot of people in the fall.”

Ochoa’s methods have extended beyond traditional coaching. Whether it’s competitive games after study hall or holding players out of jerseys in exhibition games, he has found ways to reinforce effort and urgency in everyday moments.

“Based on what we showed in our first exhibition match this spring, our staff decided that our team doesn’t deserve to wear jerseys yet,” Ochoa said. “You’ve got to earn that.”

On the field, the spring training season has been a gradual process. Early sessions focused on allowing players to play freely before introducing more structure and tactical instruction as exhibition matches approached.

Newcomer, Marco Malinovic ’29, a business administration, sport management and analytics major, Ochoa’s presence was a key factor in choosing Pacific. After initially connecting while Ochoa was on staff at UCLA, Malinovic said the coach’s vision brought him to Stockton.

“I really trust him,” Malinovic said. “He has a really good idea of how to develop a player and how to build a program. I think we can win a lot of games here, and I’m excited to see how far this program can go under his leadership.”

That belief aligns with Ochoa’s broader approach, which includes a strong emphasis on recruiting from the Central Valley and reconnecting the program with its local roots.

“You win, you recruit local, and you bring the community with you,” Ochoa said. “That’s how you fill the stadium and get people excited to watch the team play.”

Though the results of that vision will take time to fully materialize, the early signs of stronger accountability, increased competition and a clearer identity have already begun to take shape during Ochoa’s first semester.

“I’m just happy to be back,” he said. “I feel at home every day.”

As Pacific continues to build toward the fall season, the principles Ochoa is cultivating now could define what comes next. The 2026 fall schedule will be released on pacifictigers.com this summer.