Beeville, TX- Coastal Bend College has turned to one of the region's brightest young soccer minds to lead its men's program. On August 29, 2025, Manuel Iwabuchi was named interim head coach of the Cougars.
Iwabuchi, a Rockport native, brings a proven track record across youth, high school, and the USL League Two level. Since taking charge of Corpus Christi FC in 2022, he has become the club's winningest head coach with a 28-8-9 record. His tenure included three straight top-three finishes, a 2024 Lone Star Division title, a run to the USL2 national quarterfinals, and the club's first-ever berth in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. That 2024 squad also led the nation in scoring with 45 goals in 12 matches.
Beyond USL2, Iwabuchi has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of South Texas players. He currently serves as Director of Coaching for the Corpus Christi FC Academy, overseeing player pathways and program design while coaching top youth sides. His résumé also includes a successful spell at Dynamo-Coastal Bend, where he was named STX Girls Coach of the Year in 2020 and led a team to Presidents Cup state and regional success in 2022.
Since 2019, Iwabuchi has also guided the boys program at Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi. He delivered a district title in 2025, a program-record 12 wins in 2022, and postseason runs to the TAPPS Round of 16 (2022) and Elite 8 (2025). His leadership helped 29 players earn All-District honors, with seven reaching All-State.
Known for his possession-based, attacking style, Iwabuchi's coaching philosophy emphasizes developing technically sharp and tactically intelligent players while fostering growth-oriented environments. At just 29 years old, he now steps into the college game, adding another chapter to an already fast-rising career.