Corpus Christi FC Announces Manuel Iwabuchi as Assistant Coach
USL1 Corpus Christi FC

Corpus Christi FC Announces Manuel Iwabuchi as Assistant Coach

Published on November 21, 2025 under United Soccer League One (USL1)
Corpus Christi FC News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Corpus Christi FC has announced Manuel Iwabuchi has been named Assistant Coach for the Sharks.

Iwabuchi, a Rockport, Texas native, brings a proven track record across youth, high school, and the USL League 2 level. Since taking charge of Corpus Christi FC in 2022, he has become the club's winningest head coach with a 28-8-9 record. His tenure included three straight top-three finishes, a 2024 Lone Star Division title, a run to the USL League 2 national quarterfinals, and the club's first-ever berth in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. That 2024 squad also led the nation in scoring with 45 goals in 12 matches.

Beyond USL League 2, Iwabuchi has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of South Texas players. He currently serves as Director of Coaching for the Corpus Christi FC Academy, overseeing player pathways and program design while coaching top youth sides. His résumé also includes a successful spell at Dynamo-Coastal Bend, where he was named STX Girls Coach of the Year in 2020 and led a team to Presidents Cup state and regional success in 2022.

From 2019 to 2025, Iwabuchi has also guided the boys program at Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi. He delivered a district title in 2025, a program-record 12 wins in 2022, and postseason runs to the TAPPS Round of 16 (2022) and Elite 8 (2025). His leadership helped 29 players earn All-District honors, with seven reaching All-State.

Iwabuchi recently served as the interim coach for Coastal Bend College, leading them to an 11-5 record and finishing second in the South Division of Region 14. They ended the season 14th in the NJCAA national rankings. Known for his possession-based, attacking style, Iwabuchi's coaching philosophy emphasizes developing technically sharp and tactically intelligent players while fostering growth-oriented environments.

Head Coach and Sporting Director Éamon Zayed was happy to keep Iwabuchi home.

"Since I arrived, Manny has been a fantastic resource and has proven already what a valuable addition to our technical staff he will undoubtedly be," Zayed said.

"He has the exact attributes I'd look for in an assistant coach; he has a vast background in youth soccer and college soccer along with doing a fantastic job as the USL League 2 head coach here at Corpus Christi. He is extremely knowledgeable and hard working and shows a very strong appetite to learn and become the best coach he can be. I'm delighted to have him alongside me. The relationship between head coach and assistant coach is a two way street and the perfect combination is one that feeds off each other and pushes each other just like a teammate would. It is a key aspect in building a successful team, having good people around that you can trust and feed off of. So, I'm so happy that Manny will be a part of our team and contribute massively to our future success."

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