The Brevard College Women’s Soccer team has added Juan Mascaro Jr. as Associate Head Coach and Rebeccah Rojas as Volunteer Assistant Coach announced Head Coach Juan Mascaro Sr. Mascaro Jr. and Rojas will begin their new duties with the women’s soccer program immediately.
Mascaro Jr. becomes Associate Head Coach for the Women’s Soccer program, after most recently spending the last three seasons in the same role for the Brevard College men’s soccer program.
“Coach Mascaro Jr. brings a wealth of experience, professionalism and energy to the program,” said Head Coach Mascaro Sr. “His versatile coaching style and experience in successful soccer programs will benefit our players on and off the field and his hard work on the recruiting trail will be a great asset to the future of our soccer program.”
Mascaro Jr. is entering his sixth overall season coaching soccer at Brevard College.
“I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to serve our women’s soccer program,” said Mascaro Jr. “I would like to thank Head Coach Mascaro Sr. and Director of Athletics Myranda Nash for their confidence in me and the opportunity to be part of this team. I can’t wait to get started serving and teaching our players.”
Following a successful playing career for the Tornados, Mascaro Jr. began his coaching career as the Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Emory & Henry College in 2016.
He then returned to Brevard College as Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper Coach for the 2017 season helping the unit earn its most wins (11) in the NCAA era. Under Mascaro Jr.’s tutelage, Brevard’s goalkeeping capped off the season with an NCAA program-record seven shutouts, giving the BC women’s soccer program an impressive 1.1 goals against average.
Following the 2017 campaign, Mascaro Jr. joined the Men’s Soccer program as an assistant. In 2019, he was elevated to Men’s Soccer Associate Head Coach under Head Coach Helio “L” D’Anna. In his three seasons in that role, Mascaro Jr. helped guide the Tornados to three straight postseason appearances and the Spring 2021 USA South West Division championship.
Mascaro Jr. is a graduate of Brevard College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Organizational Leadership to go along with a Master’s degree in Sports Management from Georgia Southern University. He holds a United States Federation D-level coaching license, a National Goalkeeper certification and is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Rojas joins the coaching staff after an illustrious career as a student-athlete at Brevard College.
“Rebeccah was a phenomenal player for us who now brings that recent experience combined with an eagerness to enter the coaching side,” said Mascaro Sr. “It is fantastic to have an alumna such as Rebeccah join our coaching staff.”
On the soccer field at Brevard College, Rojas ranked amongst the nation’s top goalkeepers while breaking several school records. In her career, she amassed 34 wins and 23 shutouts, both career records at Brevard. As a senior in 2020-21, Rojas only allowed four goals en route to a 0.44 goals-against-average which ranked amongst the nation’s elite. A five-time USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Year selection in her career, Rojas was named a USA South First-Team All-West Division selection in the Spring of 2021.
Off the field, Rojas served as Student Government Association Treasurer and as a Peer Leader for first-year students. During her time at BC, she earned both the Dr. Barbara Boerner Emerging Leader Scholarship Award and the Sustainable Leadership Award. Academically, she earned Dean’s List and USA South All-Academic honors.
Rojas, a native of Murrieta, California, graduated from Brevard College in the Spring of 2021 with a degree in Business and Organizational Leadership and a minor in Pre-Law. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration while working full-time at BC as the college’s Facility Operations Specialist.
“I am very thankful and enthusiastic to coach alongside two truly influential mentors in Head Coach Juan Mascaro Sr. and Associate Head Coach Juan Mascaro Jr,” said Rojas. “I believe that this team holds the tenacity and dedication for success, which makes it very exciting for me to be a part of once more.”
With off-season practice starting this Spring, the Tornados head into the Fall 2022 season seeking their third consecutive postseason berth. With the additions of the new coaching members and continual growth of the program, Head Coach Mascaro Sr. is optimistic about the program’s future.
“The program has been growing and improving year-after-year over the last five years,” concluded Mascaro Sr. “The team is progressing in the right way and we are going to keep pushing forward. With our current roster, our recruiting, and our coaching staff, the future is bright for Brevard College Women’s Soccer.”