“Once a Bruin, always a Bruin” – so the common UCLA saying
goes. That much the UCLA men’s soccer team etched deeper into the reputation of
its already Bruin-laden coaching staff Tuesday.
The Bruins hired former UCLA standout Leonard Griffin as the program’s new assistant coach. Griffin replaces former assistant coach Eddie Soto, who left the program in January to become the head coach for the University of San Francisco’s men’s soccer team.
Griffin played for the Bruins from 2000 to 2003, leading the team to a national championship in his junior year and earning All-America honors as a defender in his final season. In total, he appeared in 89 matches for the Bruins, tallying two goals and seven assists over his college career.
Also, Griffin will once again work alongside coach Jorge Salcedo, who was an assistant coach for the Bruins from 2001 to 2003.
Prior to joining the UCLA program, Griffin served for a year as an assistant coach for California’s men’s soccer team – one of the Pac-12’s best teams each year. He also spent three years as an assistant coach for Saint Mary’s, and another three years as an assistant coach for Cal State San Bernandino before that.
Between his UCLA career and his time as an assistant coach, Griffin played six season in the MLS.
Compiled by Chris Kalra, Bruin Sports senior staff