RSL picks up former academy GK coach Ignacio Hernandez as Juarez assistant

Real Salt Lake’s coaching staff is rounding out for 2021, with the club announcing today that they’ve agreed a deal with former RSL academy goalkeeping coach Ignacio Hernandez.

Hernandez previously coached at the academy from 2012 to 2015 before moving on to Cal Poly, where he served as an assistant coach until 2020. In 2013, he served as an assistant under former U.S. men’s national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Quotes from the RSL communications press release follow:

RSL coach Freddy Juarez:

“I love Nacho’s experience. He’s worked at every level – he’s worked with our Academy, he’s worked in MLS, he’s worked on the national team level. For me that was very important in having someone who can develop players, but also the experience of dealing with veteran international players,” Juarez said. “He’s an amazing person that is going to come to work with a smile on his face every day and that’s important for the club culture. I’ve had experience working with him and it clicked. When you have that as a staff, it trickles down to the team.”

Hernandez, from the same release:

“I belong with this organization,” Hernandez said. “I’ve worked with RSL before and it was a great experience at the Academy level. I’ve always been really attached to this logo and feel a hunger for this team. We are here to contribute to the team and win games. That’s the bottom line.”