Anthony Soto is in his first year with Cal Poly as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Soto spent the last two seasons at Mercer as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. During his time there, the Bears offense thrived, averaging more than 34 points and 442 yards per game. This past season, Mercer was third in the FCS in yards per game and the 13th best scoring offense in the FCS.

Prior to Mercer, Soto spent four years at Lenior-Rhyne. Soto created offensive fireworks across four seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne as the Bears averaged 433.9 yards of total offense per game with him at the reins, including 240.5 yards an outing through the air. The Bears showcased NCAA Division II’s 5th-best total offense (488.7 yards/game) in his first full season on the sidelines, as well as the nation’s 9th-best rushing offense. Lenior-Rhyne had impeccable ball protection under his watch as well, turning the ball over just 50 times in four seasons, including just 10 turnovers across the 15-game 2023 campaign.

Soto played an integral role in leading the Bears to a 32-9 record from 2020-23, as well as the 2023 South Atlantic Conference championship and a trio of league divisional titles. L-R capped the latter campaign, one which included the school's first NCAA postseason road victory and a run to the NCAA quarterfinals, with a No. 4 national ranking as well. Soto’s offensive players raked in 17 all-conference accolades during his time in Hickory, N.C., including one who was eventually decorated with all-America laurels.

Prior to his move to North Carolina, Soto was  the offensive line coach at Notre Dame (Ohio) for four seasons and was a part of a dominant run for the Falcons. From 2016-19, Notre Dame amassed a cumulative 42-8 (.840) record and a pair of Mountain East Conference championships. The Falcons racked up a 13-1 record and advanced all the way through to the semifinal round to cap the program's first-ever berth into the NCAA postseason in 2018, and returned to the sport's biggest stage the following season on the way to a 12-2 record and a berth into the NCAA quarterfinals.

Soto’s offensive line played a big part of the success for NDC. The Falcons registered 234.7 yards per game on the ground (5.2 yards/attempt), including a 2018 campaign that saw NDC average 5.8 yards per rush on the way to a 3,700-yard season on the ground (264.6 yards/game). The Falcons also yielded just 29 sacks (1.03/game) across Soto’s last two seasons in South Euclid, Ohio, as well.

A product of Fresno, Calif., Soto transitioned into the coaching world in 2013 as the wide receivers coach at Hoover High School in Fresno, Calif., then made his way onto the college sidelines as the offensive quality control coach at UC Davis for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Soto played four seasons (2009-12) in the wide receiver rotation at UC Davis, logging 107 career receptions for 1,269 yards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in community & regional development from UC Davis in 2012.