Pete Cuadrado Ready to Lead at Coastal
9/3/2026 11:11:00 AM | Women's Soccer
CONWAY, S.C. – Backed by a 4-1-0 start to the 2026 season head coach Pete Cuadrado has displayed his immediate impact on the Coastal Carolina women's soccer team.
With more than two decades as a head coach, Cuadrado has transformed programs at multiple stops, capturing conference championships at North Dakota State and Wyoming while laying the foundation for success at Tarleton State. When he arrived at Tarleton, he was tasked with starting a Division I program from scratch. Now, after arriving at Coastal in April, he faces another rebuilding project, one with just nine returning players, 17 newcomers and a fresh opportunity to shape the future of the Chanticleers.
"I've gotten to build programs everywhere I've been, and I've been successful doing that, so I feel prepared to take on a challenge," Cuadrado said.
For Cuadrado, Coastal immediately stood out for more than just its soccer program.
The combination of the university's athletic success, first-class facilities and location made Conway an attractive destination, while the opportunity to compete in one of the nation's strongest women's soccer conferences sealed the decision. After discussing the move with his wife, whose "happy place is the beach," the choice became clear.
"I think all of those things combined," Cuadrado said. "This opportunity to come in and compete at such a high level in the Sun Belt and develop a program here, there were just a lot of good factors."
At just 25 years old, Cuadrado became a Division I head coach, beginning a coaching journey that has taken him across the country. Along the way, he built North Dakota State into a conference champion, guided Wyoming to a Mountain West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance and later accepted the challenge of launching Tarleton State's Division I women's soccer program from scratch.
Literally.
"We didn't have a soccer ball. We didn't have a field when I took that job," Cuadrado recalled.
Those experiences have shaped both his coaching philosophy and the environment he hopes to establish at Coastal.
"My style? I call it winning," he said.
"I think there are two types of coaches. There are coaches who do what they do, and when it doesn't work, it's because the players didn't play well enough. Then there are coaches who adjust, and that's where I fall. If Plan A doesn't work, you go to Plan B. If Plan B doesn't work, you go to Plan C. Whatever the game requires, that's what we're going to do."
Instead of demanding perfection from day one, Cuadrado wants his players to become adaptable, accountable and comfortable responding to different situations throughout a season, and this stems from the players mindset.
"Rules are enforced by coaches. Standards are enforced by players," Cuadrado said. "The more you have a player-led team, the better environment you have, the better chemistry you have and the better standards you have."
Creating that culture has become the focus during preseason. With so many new faces arriving together, every player begins with a clean slate.
"I think everybody is here to prove themselves," Cuadrado said. "Everybody wants to be a part of this. The players who came here want to be great, and I want to be great. That's the environment we're going to have."
When evaluating players, Cuadrado identified two qualities that stand above the rest.
"The non-negotiables are fitness and competitiveness," he said. "I think competitors do well in this environment, and I think fit players do well in this environment."
Those traits have already begun to emerge during the opening weeks of preseason.
Returners have helped newcomers settle into life at Coastal, transfers have seamlessly integrated with the group and leadership has come from every class, not just the veterans.
"I haven't seen cliques," Cuadrado said. "Everybody is mixing together, getting to know their teammates, and the feedback has been really positive."
That chemistry starts with the people in the locker room.
When asked what has impressed him most since arriving at Coastal, Cuadrado didn't mention talent, athleticism or results. Instead, he pointed to the character of his players.
"The quality of people has been impressive," he said. "They want to learn, they want to be great. They've made my job easy. They love this area. They want to be at Coastal, just like I do."
Cuadrado knows that building a foundation around good people matters just as much as the talent on the field. He also knows that building a championship program doesn't happen overnight, but he believes this group has embraced the standards, competitiveness and team-first mentality needed to take the next step.
Cuadrado already owns conference championship rings from previous coaching stops, and when asked whether another could eventually come at Coastal, his answer came without hesitation.
"Absolutely," he said. "This one's next."
For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
With more than two decades as a head coach, Cuadrado has transformed programs at multiple stops, capturing conference championships at North Dakota State and Wyoming while laying the foundation for success at Tarleton State. When he arrived at Tarleton, he was tasked with starting a Division I program from scratch. Now, after arriving at Coastal in April, he faces another rebuilding project, one with just nine returning players, 17 newcomers and a fresh opportunity to shape the future of the Chanticleers.
"I've gotten to build programs everywhere I've been, and I've been successful doing that, so I feel prepared to take on a challenge," Cuadrado said.
For Cuadrado, Coastal immediately stood out for more than just its soccer program.
The combination of the university's athletic success, first-class facilities and location made Conway an attractive destination, while the opportunity to compete in one of the nation's strongest women's soccer conferences sealed the decision. After discussing the move with his wife, whose "happy place is the beach," the choice became clear.
"I think all of those things combined," Cuadrado said. "This opportunity to come in and compete at such a high level in the Sun Belt and develop a program here, there were just a lot of good factors."
At just 25 years old, Cuadrado became a Division I head coach, beginning a coaching journey that has taken him across the country. Along the way, he built North Dakota State into a conference champion, guided Wyoming to a Mountain West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance and later accepted the challenge of launching Tarleton State's Division I women's soccer program from scratch.
Literally.
"We didn't have a soccer ball. We didn't have a field when I took that job," Cuadrado recalled.
Those experiences have shaped both his coaching philosophy and the environment he hopes to establish at Coastal.
"My style? I call it winning," he said.
"I think there are two types of coaches. There are coaches who do what they do, and when it doesn't work, it's because the players didn't play well enough. Then there are coaches who adjust, and that's where I fall. If Plan A doesn't work, you go to Plan B. If Plan B doesn't work, you go to Plan C. Whatever the game requires, that's what we're going to do."
Instead of demanding perfection from day one, Cuadrado wants his players to become adaptable, accountable and comfortable responding to different situations throughout a season, and this stems from the players mindset.
"Rules are enforced by coaches. Standards are enforced by players," Cuadrado said. "The more you have a player-led team, the better environment you have, the better chemistry you have and the better standards you have."
Creating that culture has become the focus during preseason. With so many new faces arriving together, every player begins with a clean slate.
"I think everybody is here to prove themselves," Cuadrado said. "Everybody wants to be a part of this. The players who came here want to be great, and I want to be great. That's the environment we're going to have."
When evaluating players, Cuadrado identified two qualities that stand above the rest.
"The non-negotiables are fitness and competitiveness," he said. "I think competitors do well in this environment, and I think fit players do well in this environment."
Those traits have already begun to emerge during the opening weeks of preseason.
Returners have helped newcomers settle into life at Coastal, transfers have seamlessly integrated with the group and leadership has come from every class, not just the veterans.
"I haven't seen cliques," Cuadrado said. "Everybody is mixing together, getting to know their teammates, and the feedback has been really positive."
That chemistry starts with the people in the locker room.
When asked what has impressed him most since arriving at Coastal, Cuadrado didn't mention talent, athleticism or results. Instead, he pointed to the character of his players.
"The quality of people has been impressive," he said. "They want to learn, they want to be great. They've made my job easy. They love this area. They want to be at Coastal, just like I do."
Cuadrado knows that building a foundation around good people matters just as much as the talent on the field. He also knows that building a championship program doesn't happen overnight, but he believes this group has embraced the standards, competitiveness and team-first mentality needed to take the next step.
Cuadrado already owns conference championship rings from previous coaching stops, and when asked whether another could eventually come at Coastal, his answer came without hesitation.
"Absolutely," he said. "This one's next."
For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
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