Bernardo Silva, who previously served as an assistant on the Cal Poly coaching staff from 2013-16, was named the second head coach in the history of the Cal Poly women’s soccer program on Dec. 21, 2024.

“I’m so incredibly proud to welcome Bernardo back to the Mustang family,” Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman said. “He brings a tremendous amount of energy, passion and purpose to everything he does, and I’m confident those attributes will translate into our women’s soccer program excelling at a high level for a number of years under his leadership.”

Silva comes to Cal Poly after spending the last two seasons as the head coach at Cal State Bakersfield (2023-24). In 2024, Silva led the Roadrunners to unprecedented success. After being picked to finish ninth out of 11 teams in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll, Silva helped CSUB women’s soccer become the first team in the school’s history to reach a Big West Championship since the institution joined the conference. Making their first-ever appearance in the Big West postseason tournament this fall, Silva guided the Roadrunners on a remarkable run to accomplish the historic feat. As the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, CSUB took down three-time defending Big West champion UC Irvine 1-0 in the first round before securing a decisive 3-0 victory over No. 1 seed and Big West regular season championship Hawai’i in the semifinals to earn the program’s first Big West Championship appearance. In the final, the Roadrunners battled No. 3 UC Santa Barbara to a 2-2 draw before coming up short in penalties, 8-7.

Under Silva’s leadership in 2024, CSUB set Big West program records for conference points, victories, goals scored, fewest goals conceded and All-Big West honorees. Silva also helped the Roadrunners achieve their longest unbeaten streak in program history and highest finish ever in the Big West regular season standings. Across two seasons at the helm in Bakersfield, Silva amassed an 11-20-9 overall record and a 6-8-6 mark in Big West play.

“Being the head coach at Cal Poly has been a dream job for me ever since I left, and I don’t say that lightly,” Silva said. “I have so much belief in Cal Poly, it’s academic and athletic excellence, and what this program can achieve. I feel like it’s a sleeping giant and, in my opinion, this is one of the best jobs on the West Coast.”

Silva was an assistant on the Cal Poly women’s soccer staff for four years, serving as a volunteer assistant in his first season in 2013. He spent the next two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before being promoted to associate head coach in his final season in 2016. During that time, he mentored four All-West Region honorees and helped the Mustangs capture the Big West regular season championship in 2013. Prior to joining the Cal Poly women’s soccer staff for the 2013 season, Silva worked as an assistant on the men’s team for the Mustangs in 2012. During his sole season with the program, he helped the team match a school record for Big West victories (6).

Following his stint as an assistant on the Cal Poly women’s soccer staff, Silva served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, UCSB, during the 2017 season. He then joined the Sacramento State coaching staff for five seasons from 2018-22, taking on multiple roles. He was a volunteer coach in his first year before being promoted to an assistant role prior to the 2019 season. He was elevated to associate head coach following one of the greatest seasons in the history of the Sacramento State program in 2019 that saw the Hornets record a 17-match unbeaten streak, go 11-2-6 overall and set multiple program records, including for most shutouts (10) in a season and best goals against average (0.61). During the COVID-impacted 2020 season, Silva helped the Hornets extend their regular season unbeaten streak to a program record 22 matches. Silva took over as head coach at Cal State Bakersfield prior to the 2023 season.

Silva graduated from UCSB in 2011 with a degree in psychology with a double-minor in sport management and fitness instruction and played on the Gaucho men’s soccer team. While completing his degree at UCSB, the Portugal native worked as a regional scout for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer, identifying and recommending collegiate players for the franchise.

Silva, who possesses a U.S. Soccer Federation National C coaching license, also studied sport and exercise psychology at Loughborough University in England. While there, he added to his knowledge of soccer while serving as an intern for the famed Scottish club Hearts FC, observing training sessions and staff collaboration meetings, and studying manager-player dynamics. Silva also holds a personal training certificate from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Silva, and his wife, Katie, have three children — Ruby, Remi and Enzo.