Ariana Martinez, who spent six seasons as a Pepperdine women’s soccer assistant coach between 2016 and 2021, was part of one highly successful season after another.
In both 2016 and 2017, the Waves won WCC titles and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The program earned United Soccer Coaches West Region Coaching Staff of the Year after both seasons. The 2018 Waves posted their third straight winning season with Martinez on staff, and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2019. The 2021 Waves won 17 games (one shy of the school record), advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 for the fourth time in program history) and finished with a #13 national ranking.
In her six seasons, the Waves went 72-29-14 (.687).
Martinez came to Pepperdine after a distinguished playing career on both the collegiate and national levels, bringing a wealth of coaching experience from the youth and prep ranks.
As a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico, Martinez gained experience in both countries’ national team development systems, and eventually made four caps for the Mexican National Team.
She played in three games at the 2012 China Football Association International Tournament with Mexico and played a full 90 minutes against the French National Team in 2011. Martinez played in five games at the U-20 World Cup in 2012. She was also called up to the Mexican National Team as a college sophomore in 2011 and played in the 2012 U-20 World Cup in Japan with Mexico as well.
Martinez played four years of Pac-12 soccer, starting her collegiate career at UCLA in 2010 before transferring to California in 2012 and finishing her career there.
She served on a defensive unit at UCLA that surrendered one goal or less in 19 of 23 matches in 2010 and recorded two assists from the back line in a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Notre Dame, the eventual national champions. Martinez also earned Player of the Match honors in an NCAA Tournament game against Stanford.
With the Golden Bears, Martinez saw time as both a defender and midfielder, playing in 38 total contests. Competing primarily in the midfield as a junior, Martinez scored two goals, one of which was the game-winner against Pepperdine in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. She earned Pac-12 All-Academic recognition as a senior.
Martinez graduated from Cal in 2014 with a degree in early childhood education and sociology/psychology of education.
She worked as both a trainer and coach following her graduation, including having served as the assistant coach of the girls’ varsity team at View Point High School in Calabasas. She also worked as a soccer coach and trainer at the Sports Academy of Thousand Oaks, coaching both futsal and beach to ages 2-15. She has coached for the Eagles Soccer Club and other local youth clubs in the Moorpark area, and was both a coach and nutrition and wellness educator for the Ole Soccer Club.
Martinez has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was a youth tutor, mentor and AYSO coach during her time in college.
