A face familiar to several regional soccer fans has been named the new leader for Turlock’s long standing semi-professional men’s soccer club.
On March 3, Desmond Madrigal was announced as the next coach of Academica Soccer Club’s USL League Two squad. He will take over for longtime skipper Sergio Sousa, who departed in July to fully focus on his head coaching position at Merced College, where he has turned the program into a junior college powerhouse in recent years.
In a press release, Academica described Madrigal as an “icon” in the local soccer scene.
The 27-year-old grew up in Turlock and attended Turlock High, playing one varsity season for the Bulldogs as a sophomore before joining the San Jose Earthquakes Academy. After graduating from THS in 2015, Madrigal continued his education and playing career at Stanislaus State. As a defender, he racked up 57 games for the Warriors with 46 starts, three goals and an assist.
Madrigal played for Academica during the summers, and continued to compete for the black and yellow after graduating with his psychology degree. He eventually signed a professional contract with San Diego 1904 FC of the Division III National Independent Soccer Association in 2021, where he logged 1,137 minutes over 16 matches, including 12 starts.
He returned for his fifth Academica season in 2023, the club’s first in the United Soccer League. For the past three years, Madrigal earned his stripes as a coach as an assistant for Stan State’s men’s program.
“(Academica) was a stepping stone for me to get to where I ultimately wanted, which was to be a professional player. I got to experience that with San Diego 1904 and now I'm back, back to share the knowledge that I've learned throughout my years as a player,” Madrigal said in an introductory video posted on Academica SC social media channels.
“I'm back in the community that I grew up in, and I'm here to make a difference in the club that has treated me so well. I know that there's work to do, and I'm very excited to get straight to work and put this club back where we all think it belongs.”
In their second USL League Two campaign last season, Academica achieved a 3-8-3 record, good for just seventh place in the eight-team NorCal division — a slight drop off from their 4-7-1 record a year prior. The Turlock-based team scored 21 goals and had a goal differential of -5.
Club to scout area talent
Madrigal will be on hand when the men’s team holds a two-day tryout session in April.
Academica SC will welcome high school/club, collegiate, and post-collegiate players to the Academica Soccer Fields at 1343 W. Greenway Ave. in Turlock on April 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. It is $40 to register to participate in the evaluation session. The next day will be an invite-only session for those who impressed on the first day.
All players who make the squad will have their costs fully covered. Players who attend these tryouts may be asked to return for additional evaluation/training sessions in order to secure roster spots.
Academica’s women’s team, entering their fourth season as an organized club, will also hold their annual open tryouts this year, free of charge.
The tryout date this year is April 19, taking place from noon to 2 p.m. It is a supplement to the organization’s current recruiting efforts.
Like the men’s club, Academica WSC has competed in the United Soccer League for the last two seasons, specifically in the organization’s W League. They finished the 2024 season — their first under head coach Trisha Gonzales — with a 3-9-0 record, good for sixth-place in the eight-team NorCal division.
The registration forms for each tryout is available at www.academicasc.com/page/show/8396167-tryouts. Spots are limited.
